Regeneration of Asparagus racemosus by shoot apex and nodal explants

In vitro propagation of Asparagus racemosus was carried out using shoot apex and nodal explants in three stages. (a) Initiation of multiple shoots on MS -medium supplemented with 6- Benzyl Adenine (8.9 µM) + Naphthalene Acetic Acid (0.27 µM) at 250C having 16 h photoperiod (with 60 µ mol m-2 s -1 light intensity) and 8 h dark period. (b) Elongation of shoots on MS medium supplemented with 15% coconut milk + 2-iso Pentenyl Adenine (19.6 µM), the light intensity was increased to 80 µ mol m-2 s -1. (c) Rooting of elongated shoots by giving it a preculture treatment with MS medium augmented with Indole Butyric Acid (7.35 µM) for 48 h and then transfer to MS medium with 15% coconut milk. The rooted healthy plantlets were best hardened in a mixture of 1:1 sand and soil in a moist saturated chamber having 60 -80 % humidity. Plants were transferred to fields, after 5 wks of hardening.