In Vitro Culture of Allium Sativum L. : In Vitro Culture of Allium sativum L. for Virus-Free Plant Production and Induction of Somaclonal Variation

Meristems isolated from shoot tips of field grown mature garlic bulbs of five cultivars were cultured in liquid MS medium with 2ip and NAA for shoot proliferation. In vitro bulblets were produced from meristem derived shoot clumps in MS with high levels of sucrose. Rooted plantlets with bulblets were gradually acclimatized and successfully established in the field. Visual evaluation of the morphological traits of the meristem derived plants showed that all plants were normal and free from virus diseases. Substantial yield increase was observed from meristem derived plants over their source plants. Shoot tip, leaf base, leaf primordia and bulbil from field grown mature garlic bulbs of five cultivars were cultured in MS medium with 2,4-D for callus induction. The calli were transferred to MS medium without any growth regulators for somatic embryogenesis. Plantlet regeneration from somatic embryos was obtained in KIN supplemented MS media. After proper acclimatization rooted callus derived plantlets with bulblets were transplanted in the field and somaclonal variation were found in plant height, number of leaves/plant, bulb diameter/plant, and bulb weight/plant.