A successful and reproducible clonal propagation protocol from seed
culture and a high regeneration ability through callus cultures derived from
hypocotyls of Asparagus densiflorus were achieved in this investigation. The results
showed that good seed germination could be achieved by cold and wet seed
stratification prior to culture and using sloped surface medium enriched with 2 mgl-1
BA. The use of hypocotyls was superior upon the use of radicals as explants for shoot
multiplication. The best parameters for hypocotyl explants multiplication were
recorded while using BA alone at 1.0 mgl-1 by producing 8.13 shoots/ explant of 7.81
cm mean length and 33.00 leaves per explant. The best auxin for rooting of Asparagus
shoots was IBA at 1.25 mgl-1 as compared to IAA or NAA. At callus induction and
In vitro propagation of Asparagus racemosus was carried out using shoot apex and nodal
explants in three stages. (a) Initiation of multiple shoots on MS -medium supplemented with 6-
Benzyl Adenine (8.9 μM) + Naphthalene Acetic Acid (0.27 μM) at 250C having 16 h photoperiod
(with 60 μ mol m-2 s-1 light intensity) and 8 h dark period. (b) Elongation of shoots on MS
medium supplemented with 15% coconut milk + 2-iso Pentenyl Adenine (19.6 μM), the light
intensity was increased to 80 μ mol m-2 s-1. (c) Rooting of elongated shoots by giving it a preculture
treatment with MS medium augmented with Indole Butyric Acid (7.35 μM) for 48 h and
then transfer to MS medium with 15% coconut milk. The rooted healthy plantlets were best
hardened in a mixture of 1:1 sand and soil in a moist saturated chamber having 60 -80 %
humidity. Plants were transferred to fields, after 5 wks of hardening.