Abstract:

In vitro organogenesis was achieved from cotyledonary leaf derived callus in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) cultivars, Pusa Purple Long (PPL) and Black Beauty (BB) on MS medium. Organogenic callus was induced from cotyledonary leaf excised from 20 day old seedlings on MS medium containing NAA, 2, 4-D and PAA either alone or in combination with KN. Maximum amount of callus was induced on MS medium supplemented with 3 mg/l NAA +0.5mg/l Kn. Induction of multiple shoots from cotyledonary leaf derived callus was achieved when pieces of callus were cultured on MS medium supplemented with either 6-benzyl amino purine (BAP) or thidiazuron (TDZ) alone or in combination with Kn. High frequency (100%) and maximum number of shoots (19.6 ± 0.71) were obtained on MS medium containing 2mg/ BAP +1mg/l Kn. The in vitro regenerated dwarf shoots were further elongated on MS medium supplemented with 1.5mg/l gibberellic acid (GA3). Elongated shoots were then excised from shoot clumps and transferred to rooting medium containing indole butyric acid (IBA) at 3mg/l. The rooted plantlets were hardened on MS basal liquid medium and subsequently transferred to polycups containing vermiculate: soil: sand in a ratio of 1:2:2.Plantlets, thus developed were successfully established and finally transferred to greenhouse. The plantlets showed high survival rate (80%) in the soil.