Ethylene is a gaseous plant hormone (phytohormone) that play an important role on in vitro shoot morphogenesis in many plant species. The aim of the present investigation was to critically analyse the role of an ethylene inhibitor i.e. silver nitrate (AgNO₃) on shoot organogenesis in sugarcanecvs.CoJ 83 and CoH 119. Different concentrations of silver nitrate were tested in the medium: 1 mgl^-1, 3 mgl^-1, 5 mgl^-1 and 10 mgl-1. Genotypic dependence was observed between cvs. CoJ 83 and CoH 119 with different concentrations of AgNO₃ tested in the medium. Among the varying concentrations (1–10 mgl-1) of silver nitrate tested, percentage of leaf roll segments responding were improved giving highest number of shoots per explant on MS medium + Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA; 5 mgl^-1) + Kinetin (Kin; 0.5 mgl^-1) + AgNO3 (3 mgl^-1) in cv. CoJ 83 and on MS medium + NAA (5.5 mgl^-1) + Kin (0.5 mgl^-1) + AgNO3 (5 mg^-1). The number of shoots formed per explant increased to two-fold and the shoot length was also increased as compared to control. Data recorded on the number of roots and root length also showed a significant increase over the control in both the varieties.