Callus mediated plant regeneration of two cut flower cultivars of Anthurium andreanum Hort.

Abstract: Plant regeneration of Anthurium andraeanum cultivars 'Pumasillo' and 'Corallis' has been achieved through adventitious shoots formation from callus. Young brown leaf lamina was used as explants for indirect organogenesis. These were disinfected using sodium hypochlorite (5%), ethanol (70 %) and HgCl₂ (0.1%). The results showed that both the varieties responded differently to callus induction, callus proliferation and shoot initiation treatments. In 'Corallis', the maximum number of cultures initiated callus on Nitsch medium supplemented with 5 mgL^-1 adenine and 2 mgL^-1 BAP while in Pumasillo, maximum number of cultures initiated callus on modified MS medium supplemented with 5 mgL^-1 adenine and 3 mgL^-1 BAP. Maximum shoot regeneration was observed on modified MS supplemented with 0.01 mgL^-1 TDZ in both the cultivars. Rooting medium was (modified half-strength MS salts) supplemented with 0.5 mgL^-1 IBA and 0.04% active charcoals. The callusing frequency of 'Pumasillo' was higher as compared to 'Corallis'. Rooted plantlets were succesfully acclimatized in polythene covered plastic trays containing cocopeat. Later on the hardened plantlets were successfully transplanted to commercial potting medium (1:1:1:1 cocopeat: rice husk: sand: FYM ) and were transferred to poly house with survival rate of ninety per cent.