Journal of Applied Horticulture. 2002: 4(1): 30-32

Effects of reduced humidity and antitranspirants in acclimatizing micropropagated Citrus plantlets

Hazarika, B N; Parthasarathy, V A

Biotechnology Laboratory, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam - 793 103, Meghalaya, India.

Microshoots approximately 2.0-2.5 cm long obtained from in vitro cultures of C. reticulata, C. nobilis x C. deliciosa, C. volkameriana and C. reshni were subjected to reduced humidity treatment with silica gel (8 mg), alar [daminozide] (1 or 2 mg/litre) and 8-hydroxyquinoline (1 or 2 mg/litre). After 4 weeks, the plants were transferred to polyethylene bags containing soil and farmyard manure at 1:1. Plant survival was evaluated after 1 week. The application of silica gel adversely affected ex vitro survival. The values of shoot and root growth parameters were lowest under silica gel treatment and highest under the control. Alar and 8-hydroxyquinoline enhanced most of the root and shoot growth parameters. Plant weight was greatest in C. nobilis x C. deliciosa (293.53 mg) and lowest in C. reshni (280.45 mg). Shoot length ranged from 2.8 cm in C. reshni to 3.2 cm in C. reticulata and C. volkameriana. Leaf weight was greatest (30.46 mg) in C. volkameriana. The application of 2 mg 8-hydroxyquinoline/litre was effective in the reduction of water loss and enhancement of ex vitro survival.