In vitro plantlets from alginate-encapsulated shoot tips of Solanum nigrum L

• Published in: Scientia horticulturae 2010-05, Vol.124 (4), p.517-521
• Main Authors: Verma, Satish K., Rai, Manoj K., Asthana, Pooja, Jaiswal, V.S., Jaiswal, U.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acclimatization; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Conversion; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Parasitic plants. Weeds; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Shoot-emergence; Synthetic seeds; Vegetative propagation. Micropropagation; Vegetative propagation. Sowing and planting. Harvesting; Weeds
• ISSN: 0304-4238; 1879-1018
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2010.02.002

Shoot tip explants obtained from in vitro proliferated shoots were encapsulated in 3% sodium alginate and 100 mM calcium chloride for the production of synthetic seed in Solanum nigrum L., a medicinally important plant. Morphogenic responses of encapsulated shoot tips to various sowing media (full or half-strength 0.8% agar-solidified or liquid MS medium or full-strength MS medium containing BAP) were evaluated in vitro. Of the six media evaluated, maximum conversion was obtained on 0.8% agar-solidified growth regulator free full-strength MS medium. The addition of MS nutrients in alginate matrix had a pronounced effect on the length of shoots that emerged from alginate beads. Encapsulated shoot tips also converted when directly sown in sterile soil moistened with liquid MS medium. Encapsulated shoot tips could be stored at low temperature (4 °C) up to 60 days. Plantlets regenerated from encapsulated shoot tips were acclimatized successfully.