Abstract Methods were developed in the present investigation for cloning and large scale plant
production of Passiflora foetida L. germplasm selected from the East-Coast region of South India.
Nodal shoot segments were used as explants. The explants were dressed and surface sterilized with
0.1% (w/v) HgCl2. Multiple shoots were induced (6.13 ±0.22 shoots per explant) by proliferation
of nodal shoot meristems on Murashige and Skoog (MS) semi-solid medium + 2.0 mg l
1
6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). The shoots of P. foetida were further multiplied (16.45 ± 0.44 shoots
per explant) on MS medium + 0.5 mg l
1 each of BAP and Kinetin (Kin). The in vitro generated
shoots were rooted on half-strength MS medium containing 2.5 mg l
1 indole-3 butyric acid
(IBA). By this method 67% shoots were rooted. About 97% shoots were rooted ex vitro (8.33
± 0.29 roots per shoot) when the cut ends of the shoots were treated with 300 mg l
1 IBA for
5 min. The in vitro rooted plants were hardened and acclimatized in the greenhouse and successfully
(100%) transplanted to the field.
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