Effect of flower bud size, genotype, growth regulators and pre-treatments on androgenic callus induction in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the several factors that affect the androgenic callus induction in eggplant. The effect of several factors like size of flower bud, genotype, different growth regulators and their concentration as well as cold pre-treatment on callus induction in eggplant anthers was studied. Flower bud of size 1.5 cm showed highest anther survival percentage and maximum callus induction percentage compared to immature buds (0.8 cm). Anthers of five cultivars i.e. HD-1, HD-2, PLR-1, PLR-2 and Annamalai-1 were inoculated, out of which HD-2 required minimum days for callus initiation and showed maximum callus induction frequency. Similarly, the medium supplemented with 2 mg L-1 NAA + 2 mg L-1 BAP showed the best results for anther survival percentage, days to callusing as well as callus induction frequency. The duration of cold and dark treatment also influenced androgenic callus initiation. Buds treated for 24 h in cold and dark at 4˚C showed the highest percentage of anther survival and maximum callus induction frequency and took the least number of days for callus initiation.