The spindle leaf roll segments of sugarcane cultivar Co 238 were cultured in vitro for shoot regeneration. Cultured spindles exhibited unwhorling after 5 to 10 days of incubation followed by direct shoot regeneration without callus phase. Shoot initiation was observed in a cluster of 2-3 shoots after the third week of incubation. Data was recorded for the number of shoots, shoot length, rooting frequency, and root length. Maximum of 7.68 ± 1.26 shoots with mean shoot length of 8.13 ± 1.87 cm, 100 % root induction frequency, and mean root length of 3.89 cm were recorded. This study demonstrates the development of a reliable method for sugarcane improvement and can be used for micropropagation and genetic engineering of Co 238 cultivar.

Highlights

• Direct shoot regeneration without callus phase with shoot and root induction on the same media.
• A reliable method was developed for sugarcane improvement and can be used for micropropagation.