In vitro rhizome induction and plantlet formation from multiple shoots in Bambusa bambos var. gigantea Bennet and Gaur by using growth regulators and sucrose

Bamboos represent one of the world's great natural and renewable resources. The study reports precocious rhizome formation in multiple shoots of elite, rare, woody bamboo Bambusa bambos var. gigantea. Multiple shoots were initiated from embryonic axes of caryopses inoculated on MS-basal medium supplemented with 5.0 μM BAP and 2% sucrose. Transfer of shoots to MS basal medium supplemented with BAP (2.5 μM, 5.0 μM), GA3 (0.1 μM) and NAA (50.0 μM) and 5% sucrose led to 58% to 100% rhizome induction within four weeks of culture. Subsequently, these rhizomes developed roots on auxin media and formed culm shoots showing regeneration of plantlets after eight weeks. Incorporation of TIBA inhibited rhizome formation. The plantlets with rhizomes were transferred to soil. Precocious rhizome formation will lead to early establishment besides providing propagules on demand and mass multiplication of bamboos through rhizome banks.