Saffron is an important spice derived from the stigmas of Crocus sativus, a species belonging to the family Iridaceae. Due to its triploid nature it is sterile and is not able to set seeds, so it is propagated only by corms. The natural propagation rate of most geophytes including saffron is relatively low. An in vitro multiplication technique like micropropagation has been used for the propagation of saffron. In the present study, various explants were cultured on different nutrient media supplemented with various concentrations of plant growth regulators to standardize the best media combination for obtaining optimum response with respect to corm production and development of Stigma Like Structures (SLS). Highest response (60%) was observed with half ovaries on G-5 media supplemented with 27μM NAA and 44.4μM BA followed by 55% on LS media with 27μM NAA and 44.4μM BA. Maximum size (1.3 g) of microcorms were obtained from apical buds on the LS media supplemented with 21.6μM NAA and 22.2μM. Stigma Like Structures were developed from half ovary explants both directly and indirectly. Maximum number (120 indirectly and 20 directly) and size (5.2 cm) of SLS were obtained in G-5 medium supplemented with 27μM NAA and 44.4μM BA followed by 100 indirectly and 20 directly and 4.5 cm long on LS medium supplemented with 27μM NAA and 44.4μM BA.
The rate of strawberry propagation through conventional technique is quite low and it is difficult to maintain planting material during the summer months under Bihar condition. Further, importing mother plants adds to the production cost. In vitro micro propagation has emerged as a potential alternative for supplying planting material for strawberry. Two type of explants viz., runner tip and nodal segment were used for the study. Phenol exudation was the major problem during establishment which caused death of majority explants. In our experiment, almost no phenolic exudation (+) and maximum percent regeneration for runner tip (55.2 ± 0.52%) and nodal segment (58.1 ± 0.54%) was observed when MS medium was supplemented with ascorbic acid 200 mg per liter. Phenolic exudation was recorded highest (++++) under control when no antioxidants were supplemented. Minimum number of days for runner tips (8.4 ± 0.23) and nodal segments (10.3 ± 0.33) taken for shoot proliferation was observed when MS medium was supplemented with activated charcoal 300 mg and 200 mg per liter, respectively. Though all other antioxidants used in our study including citric acid, PVP and activated charcoal significantly reduced oxidative browning, ascorbic acid was found to be most effective antioxidant in controlling lethal browning during in vitro establishment of strawberry. This protocol has a potential for allowing a large scale multiplication of this important crop.
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