Abstracto

Studies on in vitro propagation of pomegranate (P.Granatum)

R.Balaji Raja, Vivek Swaminathan Krishnaswamy , Kantha D.Arunachalam

An attempt was made to provide an outline on overall protocol for the in vitro propagation of P.Granatum. Surface sterilization of the explants collected from the greenhouse were done after being washed with water, anti oxidizing agent, fungicides like bavistin for a respectable amount of time. Initiation of the sterilized explants was done usingMSMediumwith 2 mg/ l of BAP. Theywere then incubated and left for a week under the mentioned conditions. Multiplication of explants is done by using MS medium with 2 mg/l of BAP. They were again incubated under the mentioned conditions. The explants are then selected for the next step on the basis of height, color, strength of the culture. Rooting is done in an MS medium containing 0.5 mg/l of IAA and 0.5 mg/l of IBA. Rooting should result in strong, diverse roots. Hardening is done in the greenhouse in two stages primary and secondary hardening. Primary hardening involves leaving the rooted cultures in sterile coco pit mixture for one month in 100% humidity and under diffused sunlight. Secondary hardening involves transferring the explants to soil and under maximum sunlight for two months. The plants are then dispatched to the respective customers or farmers.