A high-efficiency 3-Step in vitro protocol for commercial cormel micropropagation of Gladiolus hybridus Hort. cv ‘Red Majesty’

The present study aimed to standardize a cormel in vitro propagation protocol for Gladiolus hybridus Hort. cv 'Red Majesty'. The study evaluated many parameters, from culture establishment to cormlet development of Gladiolus hybridus Hort. There was a significant effect of treatments on these parameters and a 3-step process was standardized for its commercial micropropagation. Minimum (45) days to cormlet appearance was recorded on MS + B5 vitamins supplemented with CCC (1mgl−1) + sucrose (9%), while the maximum average number of cormels per explant (14) was produced on MS + B5 vitamins supplemented with IBA (0.5 mgl−1) + CCC (2 mgl−1) + sucrose (3%). Maximum cormel development percent (85) was observed on MS + B5 vitamins supplemented with growth regulator combination CCC (1.0mgl−1) + sucrose (9%). Maximum number of cormels (14) was observed in (IBA 0.5mgl−1 + CCC 2mgl−1 sucrose 3%). Overall the best treatment for the combined effect on cormlet development (w.r.t. cormlet maturation percentage and the number of cormels) was MS + B5 medium with IBA (0.5 mg−1) + CCC (2 mg−1) + sucrose (6%) as 12 number of cormels per explant and 85 cormlet development percent was achieved. In 150 days, 12–14 cormels were obtained from a single corm slice, and each cormel size was approximately 22 mm. Therefore, the multiplication rate of superior gladiolus hybrid 'Red Majesty' can be increased 14-fold while reducing the multiplication duration using the in vitro protocol developed in the present study.