Indirect organogenesis in wild snake gourd (trichosanthes cucumerina l. var. cucumerina)

Efficient plant regeneration via organogenesis was established for medicinally important Trichosanthes cucumerina L. var. cucumerina using hypocotyl and leaf derived calli. Seeds were surface sterilized in 0.1% HgCl2 for two minutes and germinated in vitro in MS media without plant growth regulators. The maximum morphogenic callus induction rate (86%) was observed from a hypocotyl explant by culturing in MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg-l 2, 4-D + 1.0 mg-l BAP. Calli size and fresh weight increased substantially through sub culturing. The highest percentage of regeneration (85%) and highest mean number of shoots 15.2 per culture were obtained with 1.5 mg-l BAP + 0.5 mg-l GA3. Hypocotyl explants were more responsive than leaf explants in terms of callus induction and subsequent plant regeneration. Regenerated shoots were rooted in MS ½ strength medium supplemented with 1.0 mg-l IBA. About 80% of regenerated plantlets were survived and showed new branch development under ex vitro condition.