Auxins and Cytokinins Involved in Micropropagation of Pepino Plant (Solanum muricatumAiton)

A reliable and successful micropropagation protocol was developed for pepino plant (Solanum muricatum Aiton) from nodal segment explants grown on MS medium. The best values of shoot multiplication traits were recorded from the addition of 3 mg.l-1 kinetin by producing 2.3 shoots/explant, 3.6 cm and 9.6 leaves/ explant which was significantly superior upon the addition of BA at the same levels. In case of adding 3 mg.l-1 kinetin, the best root formation attributes were achieved from the use of 0.2 mg.l-l IAA that resulted a maximum number of roots (14.33 roots/ explant). The longest root length (15.33 cm) was achieved when 0.3 mg.l-l IAA was used. A 100% rooting percentage was recorded from the all tested auxins including IAA, IBA and NAA. The gradually moved plantlets from the heterotrophic phase in the lab to the autotrophic phase in the greenhouse showed 100% success. The plantlets did not show any abnormal growth or morphological changes. It is concluded that this important plant can be easily propagated by tissue culture technique through a reliable micropropagation protocol.