AN ALTERNATIVE PROPAGATION METHOD OF ANANAS THROUGH NODULE CULTURE

A micropropagation scheme for Ananas comosus Merr. was developed using nodule culture. Nodules were induced from leaf-base or chopped shoot- base explants on modified half-strength MS medium supplemented with 2. 69-5.37 mu M NAA and 4.44 mu M BA and could be maintained long-term as nodules. The nodules proliferated into more nodules when chopped into pieces of 1-3 mm and placed onto the same medium. They regenerated sh oots when transferred to medium supplemented with 0.54-10.74 mu M NAA and 0.44-8.88 mu M BA. The regeneration capacity of nodules is higher than that of direct regeneration or callus. Maximum regeneration was o btained from culture medium containing 0.54 mu M NAA and 0.44 mu M BA, where shoots could be observed as early as within 2 weeks. Many shoot s formed roots in the same medium in which they were regenerated after 10 subcultures, but the best rooting occurred in medium containing 0. 53 mu M NAA and 0.44 mu M BA. Rooted plantlets of A. comosus Merr. cou ld be routinely produced at 6-week intervals.