This investigation was undertaken to establish an efficient protocol for virus-free plant regeneration in Coccinia grandis L. through shoot apical meristem culture. Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of 6-benzyl amino purine (BAP), gibberellic acid (GA3), naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) was used for meristem establishment, shoot regeneration, and root induction as well as elongation. MS liquid medium supplemented with 1.0 mg l21 BAP 1 0.10 mg l21 NAA was found to be the best medium for the primary establishment of meristems. MS medium containing 1.5 mg l21 BAP 1 0.5 mg l21 GA3 1 0.5 mg l21 NAA was found to be best for shoot regeneration percentage at 100.0 6 0.0 and multiplication with 10.0 6 0.8 shoots per meristem as well as shoot elongation (highest 9.0 6 0.0 cm). In vitro grown shoots were subcultured and rooted with 11.0 6 0.8 roots per shoot subsequently on MS medium containing 0.5 mg l21 IBA. Well-rooted plantlets were gradually acclimatized and successfully established in the field condition with 100% survival rate.
