Development of an efficient micropropagation protocol through axillary shoot proliferation for pomegranate variety ‘Bhagwa’

Present investigation describes a micropropagation protocol for pomegranate variety ‘Bhagwa’ using axillary buds as explants. Axenic cultures were established using sequential application of carbendazim-50%, cefotaxime, kanamycin, streptocycline and mercuric chloride (HgCl₂). Among the twenty five different treatments tested for control of exudation, translocation of the explants five times at a regular interval of 24 h was effective. Two different media Murashige and Skoog (MS) and Woody Plant medium (WPM) were used for shoot induction. WPM supplemented with 1 mgl⁻¹ 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) produced maximum number of shoots (5.17 ± 1.23) among all the treatments tested for shoot induction. WPM supplemented with 1 mgl⁻¹ BAP also proved as the best treatment for multiple shoot induction and produced 11.21 ± 0.14 shoots. Treatment comprising of WP media supplemented with 5 mgl⁻¹ cobalt chloride (CoCl₂) proved very effective in control of defoliation as the number of defoliated leaves (3.60 ± 0.86) and desiccated shoots (0.60 ± 0.24) recorded was very low. Highest number of roots (5.60 ± 0.74) and root length (6.78 ± 0.52 cm) was obtained on WPM supplemented with 2000 mgl⁻¹ activated charcoal (AC). The plantlets with well formed root systems were gradually acclimatized in greenhouse using cocopeat and later shifted to polyhouse.