In Vitro PLANT REGENERATION FROM MESTA (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted in the Genetic Engineering Laboratory of the Cytogenetics Department. Bangladesh .lute Research Institute (B.lRI), Dhaka. Cotyledons (with attached petioles) of mesta (Hibiscus snbdnrifJa L.) were used as explant to investigate its in vitro regeneration potentiality. Seed germination percentage was found to be better on clinical cotton supported MS liquid medium (90%) compared to agarsupported MS solidified medium (81.33%). Among the combinations, MS medium supplemented by BAP (2.0 mgll) and IAA (0.5 mgl1) showed the highest (58.33%) shoot regeneration. Shoot regeneration was not observed in MS media without hormone (MSO) and also when more than 4mglL BAP with 0.5 rng/l IAA combination was used. MS medium without hormone (MSO) showed good response for root formation from regenerated shoots of mesta and root development occurred very nicely. The regenerated plantlets of mesta subsequently survived in soil.