Effect of nitrogen sources and 2, 4-D treatment on indirect regeneration of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) using leaf base explants

Ginger is an important monocotyledonous plant belonging to the family Zingiberaceae. The objective of this study was to investigate the regeneration potential of ginger using leaf base explants. Auxins such as 2, 4-D and NAA in combination with BA were used for initiation of callus. Different combinations of both ammonium ($NH^{4+}$) and nitrate ($NO^{3-}$) were also studied for efficient callus production. High frequency of white friable calli was observed on modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/L 2, 4-D, 0.5 mg/L NAA and 0.5 mg/L BA. The highest shoot induction (92.33%), shootlets number ($7.33{\pm}0.33$) and length ($88.33{\pm}4.40$) mm were achieved on MS media containing 0.5 mg/L BA. Regenerated shoots were transferred to in vitro rooting media containing 1.0 mg/L IBA. Afterwards, plantlets with well-developed root and shoot system were subjected to a twostep hardening process. 71% of plantlets survived after secondary hardening without any abnormal morphology.