**2.1.3 Conditioning excised explants in culture (preculture)**

*Solenostemon rotundifolius* nodal cuttings consisting two buds (having lateral buds which are microscopically globular and covered by leaf primodia as described by Niino *et al*., 2000) were obtained from pregrown cultures, positioned on sterile nylon mesh cut side down and placed on fresh pregrowth media overnight. Explants were then transferred on mesh to media with higher sucrose concentrations (0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9 and 1.0 M) sucrose for one to seven days. Media supplemented with 0.1 and 0.3 M mannitol were also used as pregrowth treatment. Incubation was under a 16 h photoperiod (40µM/m2/s-1), at 25°C+1°C.
