Feyissa, Tileye (PhD)Amente, Gerema2019-08-232023-11-182019-08-232023-11-182017-03-05http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/12345678/18816Conventional vegetative propagation of sugarcane generally has low multiplication rate and allows distribution of diseases. This results in shortage of quality planting materials. Micropropagation is currently the only practical means of achieving rapid, large-scale production of disease-free quality planting material. The present study was conducted with the objective of studying the in vitro propagation of elite sugarcane genotypes (Q200,Q217 and Co-0238) using shoot tip explants. Experiments on shoot tip culture initiation, shoot multiplication and in vitro rooting were laid out in completely randomized design with 2x3x3, 4x5x3 and 3x5x3 factorial treatment arrangements respectively. Data was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and significant means were separated using Duncan's multiple range tests. With regard to shoot multiplication, genotype Q200 showed a maximum of 13.59 shoots per explant with 5.83cm shoot length on a medium fortified with 2 mg/l BAP alone, while genotype Q217 produced a maximum of 15.28 shoots per explant with 5.37cm mean shoot length on a medium supplied with 2.0 mg/l BAP and 0.25 mg/l kinetin. Likewise, Co-0238 produced maximum of 13.56 shoots per explant with mean shoot length 6.50 cm on medium fortified with 1.5 mg/l BAP + 0.5 mg/l kinetin. Half MS semi solid medium containing 3.0 mg/l NAA induced the highest rooting with mean root number per shoot of 14.93 for Q200. For Co-0238, half MS medium supplemented with 5.0 mg/l NAA induced the highest rooting response with mean root number per shoot of 18.40. Similarly, ½ MS medium supplemented with 1.5 mg/l IBA in combination with 3.0 mg/l NAA induced highest rooting response with 16.50 mean root number per shoot. In conclusion, this study can be used for rapid in vitro propagation of these three elite sugarcane genotypes.enGenotypes6-BenzylaminopurineNaphthalene Acetic AcidIndole Butyric AcidKinetinThesis