In vitro shoot proliferation and corm production in gladiolus cultivar American Beauty

Studies on rapid in vitro shoot proliferation and corm production were conducted in gladiolus cv. American Beauty. Terminal bud explant were sterilized with 7% ethanol for 30 s followed by 1% NaOCl for 15 min. Among various concentrations of BAP (0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 mg/1) and NA A (0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/l), BAP (2,3 and 4 mg/1) with NAA (0.0, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/1) were suitable for culture establishment. Significantly profuse shoot proliferation of the single elongated bud and bisected bud mass derived form the terminal bud explant were observed after supplemented at an interval of 21 days with MS medium supplemented with BAP (4 mg/1). Single elongated bud produced maximum shoots (247.11) as compared to bisected elongated bud mass (104.0). MS medium supplemented with sucrose (7%) and IBA (1 mg/1) produced larger corm (1.5 cm diam.) and more number (5.0) of corms/shoot. For corm enlargement, MS medium supplemented with paclobutrazol (10 mg/1) alongwith sucrose (7%) and IBA (1 mg/1) significantly increased 83.3% in corm size producing 2.2 cm diameter corms in vitro.