In vitro regeneration of plantlets from unpollinated ovary culture in sweet orange (Citrus sinensis 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.