Effect of genotype, explant and culture media on direct plant regeneration in eggplant

Abstract

Direct plant regeneration of three eggplant genotypes, viz., BL-5, BR-14 and BSR-23 was studied with hypocotyl, cotyledon and leaf explants on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium fortified with different concentrations BAP and Kin. The interaction of genotype, medium and explant gave 80.36% regeneration from cotyledons of BL-5 on MS medium fortified with 3.0 mgl-1 BAP and 75.19% for cotyledons along with 3.0 mgl-1 BAP and 1.0 mgl-1 Kin. However, the same genotype induced 21.76 buds per cotyledon on MS medium supplemented with 2.5 mgl-1 BAP + 1.0 mgl-1 Kin. In general, maximum shoot elongation (%) was recorded in BSR-23 (58.53%) followed by BL-5 (56.16%), whereas, maximum rooting (%) was induced in BL-5 (57.50%), followed by BSR-23 (57.14%). The rooted plantlets were hardened on wet filter paper with 0.2% carbendazim solution for 20 days, transferred to polythene bags in greenhouse and thereafter, at 4-5 leaf stage to the earthen pots for growth and flowering.