In vitro Propagation of Red Cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata)

By manipulation of various growth regulators and physical conditions, plants have been regenerated from excised roots, stem segments, cotyledons, leaves, and callus cultures of red cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)grown under in vitro conditions. Shoot buds were induced on isolated root segments (1 cm long)cultured on Murashige and Skoog's medium and the frequency of bud formation was greatly enhanced by the addition of kinetin (0.5 part 10-6). Callus obtained from the seeds, cotyledons, and hypocotyl segments cultured on a medium fortified with 2,4-D (1 part 10-6), kinetin (0.1 part 10-6), and coconut milk (10 per cent, v/v)has been repeatedly subcultured. The callus is slow growing, and on transference to a kinetin (2 parts 10-6)and IAA (2 parts 10-6)medium underwent morphogenesis to give rise to plants. The significance of the propagation of red cabbage by in vitro culture is pointed out.