Abstract
A simple, rapid and efficient protocol for micropropagation of Cardiospermum halicacabum via axillary bud multiplication has been successfully developed. The organogenic competence of nodal segments was investigated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations of benzyladenine (BA), kinetin (Kn), thidiazuron (TDZ) and 2-isopentenyladenine (2-iP). Multiple shoots differentiated directly without callus mediation within 4 weeks when explants were cultured on a medium fortified with cytokinins. The maximum number of shoots (14.83 +/- A 0.52) was developed on a medium supplemented with 0.3 mu M TDZ. Such proliferating shoots when subcultured onto MS media devoid of TDZ gave the highest rate of shoot multiplication (35.66 +/- A 1.00) by the end of fourth subculture passage. Elongated shoots were rooted on 1/3 MS medium augmented with 0.5 mu M IAA. The plantlets thus obtained were successfully hardened and transferred to greenhouse.