Plant Regeneration and Cellular Behaviour Studies inCelosia cristataGrownIn VivoandIn Vitro

Abstract

Tissue culture studies ofCelosia cristatawere established from various explants and the effects of various hormones on morphogenesis of this species were examined. It was found that complete plant regeneration occurred at highest percentage on MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/L NAA and 1.5 mg/L BAP, with the best response showed by shoot explants.In vitroflowering was observed on MS basal medium after six weeks. The occurrence of somaclonal variation and changes in cellular behavior fromin vivoandin vitrogrown plants were investigated through cytological studies and image analysis. It was observed that Mitotic Index (MI), mean chromosome numbers, and mean nuclear to cell area ratio ofin vitroroot meristem cells were slightly higher compared toin vivovalues. However,in vitroplants produced lower mean cell areas but higher nuclear areas when compared toin vivoplants. Thus, no occurrence of somaclonal variation was detected, and this was supported by morphological features of thein vitroplants.