Vol. 12, Special Issue 9 (2023)

Author(s):
Abida PS, Soorya KU, Akhila J, Shankar C, Krishna Kumar G, Smita Nair and Preetha R

Abstract:
Bougainvillea is a thorny ornamental shrub with high aesthetic value belongs to Nyctaginaceae family. The usual propagation route through hardwood cuttings is strenuous. Here we report an efficient and rapid micropropagation protocol for bougainvillea using nodal segments as explants. The MS media added with growth regulators at different concentrations and tested for their efficiency in culture establishment, multiple shoot development and root induction. The full-strength MS medium along with 1 mg/L of BAP was found to be ideal for culture establishment. Optimum culture multiplication was obtained in MS medium added with 1 mg/L of BAP and 1 mg/L of NAA. The shoots regenerated were efficiently rooted on full-strength MS medium with 2.5 mg/L of each IBA and NAA. The plantlets after ex-vitro hardening were transferred to pots and then to the soil, after five rounds of sub-culturing. The clonal fidelity of the micro-propagated plantlets was ensured with the ISSR primers UBC 815 and UBC 836 after each round of sub-culturing. The cost of micro-propagation was estimated and the cost per plantlet was found to be Rs. 20/-. Hence this rapid method is recommended for micro-propagation of bougainvillea at a commercial large scale production.