In vitro response of promising sugarcane varieties for salinity tolerance through callus culture

Abstract

An investigation was carried out on two sugarcane varieties, viz., Co 86032 and CoM 0265 at the Sugarcane Tissue Culture Laboratory of Main Sugarcane Research Station, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari during 2014-2015 to obtain salt tolerant variants from calli of sugarcane (Saccharum sp.). Higher root length, shoot length and plantlet height were observed on MS medium (comprised of 0.5 mg/l NAA and 1 mg/l BAP) without NaCl in both genotypes. In vitro evaluation of plantlets in pot culture experiment for salt tolerance showed that, higher shoot: root ratio was observed in MS medium +3 mg/l 2, 4-D and 4 mg/l 2, 4-D + 2.00 % NaCl concentration in both the genotypes. Leaf number, leaf area, chlorophyll content and Na+: K+ ratio were decreased with increased the concentration of NaCl. In all the traits, the minimum value was observed when the medium treated with 2.5 % NaCl. Overall, Co 86032 gave better response in respect of all characters in the study as compared to CoM 0265.