Enhancement of in vitro corm production in Gladiolus by periodically replacement of liquid media using coir matrix

Abstract: An efficient protocol was developed for mass scale in vitro corm production of Gladiolus (cv. ‘White Friendship’) using liquid culture and coconut coir explored as a matrix. The culture was initiated from the basal portion of the innermost leaf of the sprout. The cut surface of responding explant was swelled in MS solid basal media supplemented with 2 mg L^-1 NAA. Ten to fifteen shoot buds were observed when the responding explant was transferred in MS media with 2 mg L^-1 BAP and 0.2 mg L^-1 NAA. The high frequency of in vitro corms were initiated in liquid MS media supplemented with 0.5 mg L^-1 NAA and 6% sucrose in coir matrix. The corms with highest mean fresh weight (4570 mg) and diameter (25 mm) developed on periodically replaced media (every three weeks) than unchanged media. Using RAPD profiling, the genetic fidelity of in vitro raised corms were tested.