Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2017) 6(7): 2476-2484 2476 Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2017.607.292 Identification of the Suitable Hardening Protocol and Hardening Medium in Micropropagation of Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii Bolus) Vivek Kumar Singh 1 *, V.M. Prasad 1 , Supriya Kumari 2 , Preeti Rajoria 3 and Pragati Misra 3 1 Department of Horticulture, Naini Agricultural Institute, Faculty of Agriculture, SHUATS, Allahabad 211007, India 2 Department of Microbiology and Fermentation Technology, 3 Tissue Culture Lab, Department of Molecular and Cellular Engineering, Jacob Institute of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, SHUATS, Allahabad 211007, India *Corresponding author ABSTRACT Introduction Gerbera are ornamental decorative garden plant (Kanwar and Kumar, 2008). Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii) also known as Transvaal, African or Barbeton Daisy. It has massive demand in the floral industry as a cut flower as well as potted plant due to its beauty and long vase life which ranked at fifth only after rose, carnation, chrysanthemum, and tulip, in the global cut flower trade (Bhatia et al., 2009). It is a perennial herb belongs to the Asteraceae family. Cultivation of gerbera for cut flower purpose gives high return in polyhouse and shade house (Singh et al., 2014). In India, commercial production of gerberas is centered around Pune and Bangalore, parts of Sikkim, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Uttarakhand. Micropropagation is the only viable alternative for large-scale multiplication of gerbera. This method is free of seasonal bonds and enables manifold multiplication of the selected plants. The other advantages are product uniformity, disease-free plants, easy exchange of germplasm and planting material (Murashige et al., 1974). Acclimatization is an important step in micropropagation. It is an adaptation process to the natural environment International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 6 Number 7 (2017) pp. 2476-2484 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com An experiment was employed to identify the suitable rooting hormone and a potential hardening medium for gerbera micropropagation techniques. IBA (Indole Butyric Acid) and GA 3 (Gibbrelic Acid) are taken for the study of rooting and Sand, Cocopeat, Vermicompost and Vermiculite selected alone or in combinations for the study of hardening in gerbera. Different parameters on root induction were taken similarly morphological and biochemical parameters were studies in hardend plants of gerbera. On the basis of different parameter it is concluded that higher rate of IBA (3 ppm and 4 ppm) lower concentration of GA 3 was found good but overall performance of IBA was best. In the hardening process among the different growing medium were tested. The combined use of Sand, Cocopeat, vermicompost and vermiculite gives excellent result but alone they were failed to give desirable result. Keywords Gerbera, Micropropagation, Rooting, Hardening and medium. Accepted: 23 June 2017 Available Online: 10 July 2017 Article Info