Optimization of Micropropagation Protocol for Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) Cultivars

A common micropropagation protocol for eight cultivars of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) was developed. A combination of 0.5 mg l-1 each of BAP, Kin, IAA and GA3 in MS medium was found to be the best for shoot elongation from apical bud explants in all the cultivars of sugarcane, namely Co Pant 90223, Co S 767, Co S 88230, Co S 97264, Co S 88216, Co Pant 84212, Co Pant 95255 and Co S 8436. For proliferation of shoots a combination of 2.0 mg l-1 BAP + 1.0 mg l-1 Kin + 0.1 mg l-1 IAA in MS medium was observed to produce maximum number of shoots in all the cultivars. Maximum rooting was observed in the shoots, which were incubated in the MS medium containing 5.0 mg l-1 NAA.