Vol. 11, Issue 11 (2022)

The present study was conducted in order to develop an efficient protocol for sterilization of bulb scale and leaf segment explants of LA Hybrid cultivars of Lilium, “Indian Summerset and “Nashville”. Surface sterilization of the scales of flowering bulbs and segments of young leaves of both the cultivars was carried out with eight different combinations of surface sterilants at varying concentrations and time duration of the exposure. The surface sterilants used under the study were Carbendazim, Mercuric chloride and Ethyl alcohol Maximum asepsis in bulb scale explants was achieved with the application of Carbendazim 0.02% for 30 minutes followed by Mercuric chloride 0.1% for 10 minutes and then by ethyl alcohol 70% for 10 seconds. In case of leaf segments, maximum asepsis was recorded with the application of similar treatment combinations except in case of Mercuric chloride exposure which was reduced to 5 minutes. Highest survival was recorded with application of Carbendezim 0.02% for 20 minutes, followed by Mercuric chloride 0.1% for 10 minutes and then by ethyl alcohol 70% for 10 seconds in case of bulb scale explants while as in case of leaf scale explants highest survival was recorded with same treatment combinations except for exposure of mercuric chloride treatment for 2 minutes.