In vitro regeneration of plantlets from unpollinated ovary culture in sweet orange (<i>Citrus sinensis</i> L. Osbeck)

Abstract

Callogenesis and organogenesis of ovary of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) cv. Blood red was carried on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of N⁶ benzyl adenine (BA), 1-napthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 2,4-D. 1 mg/l BA + 0.5 mg/l NAA on MS medium was the most effective in callus induction and proliferation. Maximum number of shoots (11) was recorded on the medium with 2 mg/l NAA + 3 mg/l BA. The best medium for root induction was MS together with 2.5 mg/l indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) + 2 mg/l indole–3-butyric acid (IBA), where maximum (16) plantlets were rooted. The regenerated plantlets were successfully acclimatized in jiffy pots containing sterilized soil mixture of sand, silt and clay in 1:1:1 ratio to study their response to in vivo conditions.

Key words: Citrus, blood red, ovary culture, callus induction, regeneration, plant growth regulators.