SEED GERMINATION AND MICROPROPAGATION STUDIES OF MAMMEA SURIGA KOSTERM

Abstract

Mammea suriga Kosterm. is a RET species distributed in Malnad region of the Western Ghats, which is over exploited for flowers, seeds and timbers, hence the population is declined. The study was conducted to evaluate the germination potency of the seeds in both in vivo and in vitro conditions to derive a regeneration protocol for the ex situ conservation.  Among the pre-treated seeds, the decoated seeds pre-treated with 0.5 mg L^-1 NAA for 24 h resulted in 86 % of germination. In in vitro condition, culture of decoated seeds on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg L^-1 NAA and 0.1 mg L^-1  TDZ resulted 91.67 % of germination. Micropropagation studies showed that the interaction of 2-3 mg L^-1 BAP and 0.2 mg L^-1 TDZ induced multiple shoots from cotyledonary and hypocotyl explants. Mass of callus induced from the leaf explants at the concentration of 1 mg L^-1 2,4-D and 3 mg L^-1 BAP. Later on the photosynthetic callus, organise in to shoot buds at the concentration of 3 mg L^-1 BAP and 0.2 mg L^-1 TDZ. The excised micro shoots showed rhizogenesis on the media fortified with 1.5 mg L^-1 IBA. The regenerants derived from both direct and indirect organogenesis exhibited similar morphological features.