Multiple shoot induction from the nodal cultures of teasle gourd (Momordica dioica Roxb.)

Momordica dioica is a dioecious cucurbit. The fruits are used as costly vegetable in southern part of India. The biotypes were collected form Warangal and Khammam districts of Andhra Pradesh. When the nodal region were cultured on MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/l 6-Benzylaminopurine BAP +2.0 mg/l L-Glutamic acid, the explants produced little amount of callus and shoot buds. The shoot buds on successive subcultures for twice on the same medium produced multiple shoots. Shoot proliferation was further continued even after six months.