RAPID PROPAGATION OF LEMONGRASS (CYMBOPOGON FLEXUOSUS (NEES) WATS) THROUGH SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS IN-VITRO

Somatic embryos induced from callus cultures of lemongrass [Cymbopogon flexuosus (Nees) Wats.] on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented wi th 5 mg/l of 2,4-D, 0.1 mg/l of NAA and 0.5 mg/l of Kn developed into plantlets when plated on a medium supplemented with 3 mg/l of BA, 1 mg /l of GA(3) and 0.1 mg/l of NAA. The regeneration potential of callus was retained for more than 2 years on the nutrient medium supplemented with comparatively lower levels of growth regulators (2,4-D at 2 mg/l , NAA at 0.1 mg/l and Kn at 0.25 mg/l). Approximately 30-35 plantlets were produced after two months of culture per 100 mg of callus inocula ted. Regenerants were transplanted into soil and transferred to the fi eld for assessment of various morphological and biochemical characteri stics. The results of 1 year of field trials showed that plants derive d from somatic embryoids were more uniform in all the characteristics examined when compared with the field performance of plants raised thr ough slips by standard propagation procedures. Thus, a procedure has b een developed for high frequency long term plant production of lemongr ass through in vitro methods.