Rapid and efficient plant regeneration of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) from cotyledonary leaf explants

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop an efficient protocol for establishment of plant regeneration through cotyledonary leaf explants of Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). Two varieties of brinjal [Pusa purple long (PPL) and Black beauty (BB)] were used. High frequency and rapid regeneration protocol was developed from cotyledonary leaf explants on MS medium supplemented with either 6-Benzyl amino purine (BAP), Kinetin (Kn), Thidiazuron (TDZ) or Zeatin (Ze). The highest number of shoots (23.3±0.10) was obtained on MS medium containg 2.0 mg/BAP+0.5 mg/L Kn. The in vitro regenerated small shoots were further elongated on MS medium supplemented with gibberellic acid (GA3) at 1.5 mg/L. Elongated shoots were then excised from shoot clumps and transferred to rooting medium containg indole butyric acid (IBA) at 3.0 mg/L. The rooted plantlets were hardened on MS basal liquid medium and subsequently transferred to polycups containg vermiculate:soil:sand (1:2:2). Plantlets, thus developed were successfully established and finally transferred to a greenhouse. The plantlets showed high survival rate (80%) in the soil.