Results
For dormancy management, intact bulbs were treated with 50, 100, or 150 ppm GA₃ for 48 h, or chilled at 5 °C for 30, 60, 90, or 120 days. Combined chilling-GA₃ experiments were conducted on longitudinally sectioned bulb cuttings. Among GA₃ concentrations, 150 ppm elicited the strongest integrated response, yielding plant height of 21.3 ± 2.39 cm, 46 ± 5.72 leaves, 4.33 ± 0.82 flowers, 79.16 ± 8.33% sprouting (24/30 bulbs), and 63.34 ± 7.46% rooting (19/30 bulbs), with sprouting at 35.25 ± 2.06 days. Chilling for 90 days produced optimal whole-plant responses including 21.99 ± 8.26 cm height, 26.77 ± 1.46 leaves, 96.67 ± 7.45% sprouting (29/30 bulbs), and 63.89 ± 6.80% rooting (19/30 bulbs); flowering occurred exclusively following this chilling duration. For in vitro propagation, bulblet formation from bulb scale explants was achieved on MS medium supplemented with 2 mg/L kinetin + 1 mg/L NAA (50% response, 5/10 explants, 39 days) and 2 mg/L kinetin + 2 mg/L NAA (16.67% response, 3/18 explants, 42 days). Callus production from seed explants occurred on MS + 2 mg/L BAP + 3 mg/L NAA (12.5% response, 4/32 explants, 4 weeks) and MS + 1 mg/L NAA (62.5% response, 20/32 explants, 39 weeks). Seed germination reached 50% (16/32 seeds) on MS + 1 mg/L NAA after 39 weeks. Subculture of callus on MS + 2 mg/L BAP + 1 mg/L NAA produced extensive callusing, rooting, and multiple shoot formation.
