IN VITRO PROPAGATION OF SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS-DERIVED PLANTLETS OF CITRUS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Plant Biotechnology Dep., Gen.Eng. and Bio. Div., National Research Center, Dokki, Egypt.

2 Pomology Dep., Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.

Abstract

Nodal stem segments of in vitro growing somatic embyogenesis and seedling-derived plantlets of sweet orange, C. sinensis (L.) of (Washington navel, shamouti and blood orange cvs.); grapefruit, C. paradisi (L.); Local mandarin, C. deliciosa (Tenor); lemon, C. limon; (L.); citron, C. medica (L.); lime, C. aurantifolia (Christm); rough lemon, C. jambhiri (Lush) and sour orange, C. aurantium (L.) were cultured on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of BA (0.5,1.0 and 2.0 mg/L) alone or in combination with NAA (0.5 mg/L) for shoot multiplica-tion. The results indicated that somatic embryogenesis-derived plantlets can be suc-cessfully propagated in vitro with a good vigor compared with germinated seedlings. A large number of proliferated shoots were produced when these explants were cul-tured on MS medium containing 0.5mg/L of BA combined with 0.5mg/L of NAA. Most obtained shoots were rooted on half-strength MS medium containing 0.5 mg/L of NAA. These in vitro grown plantlets were then successfully transferred to green house through acclimatization process.

Keywords