Relative response of varieties and explants in the induction of somatic embryogenesis in mango (Mangifera indica L.).
Sulekha G. R., Rajmohan K.
Author Affiliation: College of Agriculture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram - 695 522, Kerala, India.
South Indian Horticulture 52 : 5-12
Abstract : Attempts were made to standardize the in vitro techniques via somatic embryogenesis for rapid clonal propagation of mango (M. indica). Six monoembryonic (Neelum, Bangalora, Prior, Banganapalli, Mundappa and Mulgoa) and six polyembryonic cultivars (Olour, Kurukkan, Vellayani Varikka, Vellari Manga, Panchara Varikka and Kilichundan) of mango were used for the initial response studies. Different explants such as nucellus and embryo mass from the ovules of tender mango fruits, floral parts and tender leaves were used as explants. Among the monoembryonic cultivars, Neelum responded the best with the highest percentage of cultures initiating embryogenic callus (66.67). Vellari Manga recorded the highest percentage of cultures initiating embryogenic callus (83.33) among the polyembryonic cultivars. In Neelum, the embryo mass recorded the highest response in inducing somatic embryogenesis (75.00%), whereas in Vellari Manga, the nucellus was the best explant (83.33%). In all the cultivars, both the leaf segments and immature flower parts did not respond in inducing somatic embryogenesis.