Effects of Different Hormonal Concentrations on In vitro Regeneration and Multiplication of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.)

An efficient in-vitro regeneration and multiplication protocol was developed to check the effects of different hormonal concentrations through somatic embryogenesis of Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.). The explants (seeds) of P. glaucum were surface sterilized with different concentrations (30, 50 and 70%) of Sodium hypochlorite to ensure the removal of surface contamination. For the regeneration the explants were inoculated on MS media supplemented with varying concentrations of indole acetic acid (IAA 2 mg/L, 0.75 mg/L, 0.1 mg/L, 0.2 mg/L and 0.3 mg/L) and kinetin (KIN 1.5 mg/L, 0.5 mg/L, 0.5 mg/L, 1 mg/L and 1.5mg/L) respectively. The maximum germination (87.5 %) of explants was obtained by using 70 % Chlorox and minimum germination (62.5 %) of explants was obtained by using 30% Chlorox. The maximum stem length (15.5 cm), roots number (12), roots length (3.96 cm) and leaves length (6.76 cm) was observed on MS medium containing (IAA 2 mg/L and KIN 1.5 mg/L). The maximum leaves number (7) was observed on MS medium containing (IAA 0.75 mg/L and KIN 0.5 mg/L). The minimum stem length (3 cm), roots number (1), roots length (1 cm), leaves number (1) and leaves length (3 cm) was observed on MS medium supplemented with (IAA 0.2 mg/L and KIN 1 mg/L). The maximum Stem length (15.5cm), Roots number (12), Roots length (3.96 cm)  and Leaves length (6.76 cm) was observed on MS medium supplemented with (IAA 2 mg/L and KIN 1.5 mg/L) although maximum leaves number was observed on MS medium supplemented with (IAA 0.75 mg/L and KIN 0.5 mg/L). The study revealed an easy and reproducible in-vitro regeneration protocol of pearl millet that can provide an efficient plant regeneration which can be further exploited for transgenic applications