IDENTIFICATION OF SUITABLE HARDENING MEDIUM FOR BETTER ESTABLISHMENT
The in vitro grown plantlets were used for hardening on four different media viz., sand, soil, soil +coco coirpith(1:1), sand + soil + coco coirpith(1:1:1). The highest survival percentage and better vigour of plantlets were observed in sand + soil + coco coirpith(1:1:1) media followed by soil + coco coirpith(1:1). However, soil comparatively poor results. This could be because of poor aeration and compactness of soil when compared to other media. The medium sand + soil + coco coirpith(1:1:1) proved its superiority as hardening medium for establishment of vanilla plantlets due to the optimum conditions like good aeration and high water holding capacity.