Vol. 9, Special Issue 12, Part F (2025)

The current study was conducted to develop an efficient sterilization protocol for outer and inner bulb scale explants of Lilium longiflorum cultivar ‘Gran Paradiso’. Pre-treatment with bactericides along with fungicides followed by surface sterilization of scale explants were carried out in different combinations at varying concentrations and different time regimes. Scale explants were pre-treated with Carbendazim (0.2%), Mancozeb (0.2%) and Streptocyclin (300 ppm) while surface sterilization of explants were performed with 100% Ethanol and 0.1% Mercuric chloride. Maximum Percent survival and less contamination with low mortality rate were achieved when Pre-treatment with Carbendazim (0.2%) + Mancozeb (0.2%) + Streptocyclin (300 ppm) for 2.5 hours was given to both the explants. Surface sterilization with ethanol for 120 seconds was found more effective in controlling contamination for outer and inner scales. Followed by the pre-treatment and ethanol surface sterilization, treatment with 0.1% mercuric chloride for 8 minutes in outer bulb scales and 7 minutes in inner bulb scales resulted in less contamination and enhanced the survival percentage of explants.