An efficient protocol was developed to control excessive phenolic compound secretion during callus
culture of cotton. As cotton is naturally rich in phenolic compounds factors influencing the phenolic
compound secretion, callus induction and proliferation were optimized for getting high frequency callus
culture. Different carbon sources such as fructose, glucose, sucrose and maltose were tested at various
concentrations to control phenolic secretion in callus culture. Among them, 3% maltose was found to be
the best carbon source for effectively controlling phenolic secretion in callus induction medium. High
frequency of callus induction was obtained on MSB5 medium supplemented with 3% Maltose, 2,4-D
(0.90mM) and Kinetin (4.60mM) from both cotyledon and hypocotyl explants. The best result of callus
induction was obtained with hypocotyl explant (94.90%) followed by cotyledon explant (85.20%). MSB5
medium supplemented with 2,4-D (0.45mM) along with 2iP (2.95mM) gave tremendous proliferation of
callus with high percentage of response. Varying degrees of colors and textures of callus were observed
under different hormone treatments. The present study offers a solution for controlling phenolic
secretion in cotton callus culture by adjusting carbon sources without adding any additives and evaluates
the manipulation of plant growth regulators for efficient callus culture of SVPR-2 cotton cultivar