In-vitro propagation is widely used as reliable alternative for true-to-type and quality seed production in sugarcane. The main obstacle under in-vitro propagation is growth of contaminants, resulting in failure of culture establishment that can be minimized by effective surface sterilization method. The sterilization process varied species to species and explants type thus, present study was designed to evaluate the effects of various sterilants on in-vitro culture establishment of sugarcane variety Co 0118 through meristem shoot tip. The explants were collected and treated with different concentrations of sterilants viz., BavistinTM (), HgCl2 (), NaOCl (2-10%) and EtOH (60- 100%). The treated explants were inoculated on semi solid MS media supplemented with mg/L each of BAP and Kn. The results obtained under study showed significant differences in their activity. The optimum culture survival percent and lower contamination with reduced necrosis was to be found when explants were treated with the combination of Bavistin for 10 min followed by HgCl2 for 5 min, 6% NaOCl for 10 min and 70% EtOH for 1 min. This sterilization protocol will be contributive in efficient surface sterilization for in-vitro propagation of sugarcane though meristem shoot tip. | Evaluation of sterilant effect on in-vitro culture establishment in sugarcane variety Co 0118
