DIRECT IN VITRO SHOOTS PROLIFERATION OF CHICK PEA (CICER ARIETINUM L.) FROM SHOOT TIP EXPLANTS INDUCED BY THIDIAZURON

A rapid, simple and efficient protocol for direct in vitro multiple shoot induction and plantlet regeneration was achieved from shoot tip explants of Cicer arietinum. The shoot tips were cultured on MS medium fortified with Thidiazuron (TDZ) (1.0-7.0 mg/L) for multiple shoot induction. Multiple shoots proliferation was best observed at 3.0 mg/L TDZ from the shoot tip explants within three weeks of culture. Shoot number per explant ranged between 2 and 10. Individual shoots were aseptically excised and sub cultured in the same media for shoot elongation. The elongated shoots were transferred to Indole Butyric Acid (IBA) (1.0mg/L–5.0mg/L) for root induction. Rooting was observed within two weeks of culture. Rooted plantlets were successfully hardened under culture conditions and subsequently established in the field conditions. The recorded survival rate of the plants was 86%. Plants looked healthy with no visually detectable phenotypic variations.