Conventional 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. Experiments on shoot tip culture initiation and shoot multiplication were laid out in completely randomized design with 2x3x3 and 4x5x3 factorial treatment arrangements respectively. Data was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and significant means were separated using Duncan's multiple range tests. Sugarcane genotype Q200 produced 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 had 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. On the other hand, Co-0238 produced a maximum of 13.56 shoots per explant with a mean shoot length of 6.50 cm on medium fortified with 1.5 mg/l BAP + 0.5mg/l kinetin.

Keywords: Sugarcane genotypes, Saccharum spp., 6-Benzylaminopurine, Kinetin, Invitro Micro propagation