Author(s): Melaku Tesfa, Belayneh Admassu and Kassahun Bantte
A study was conducted at Holetta National Agricultural Biotechnology Laboratory with the objective to determine the effect of different concentrations of NAA on ex vitro root development of sugarcane microshoots. Five levels of NAA (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 mg/l) and two levels of genotypes were combined in factorial arrangement. The basal end of the shoots was dipped in NAA solution overnight before the shoots were transferred into a plastic tray containing a mixed growing medium in green house. The results showed that interaction effect of genotype and NAA was highly significant (p<0.0001) on rooting percentage, number of roots per shoot, root length. In genotype N52, best root formation was found on the shoots treated with 20 mg/l NAA by which rooting percentage was 76 ± 5.48 with 5.88 ± 0.04 cm root length and 8.06 ± 0.13 number of roots per plantlets. While in genotype N53 maximum, root formation was recorded on the shoots dipped in 30 mg/l NAA by which rooting percentage was 70 ± 7.07 with 5.42 ± 0.11 cm root length and 4.52 ± 0.19 number of roots per plantlets. Shoots rooted through this method exhibited 100 % survival in both genotypes.
