Direct shoot organogenesis and plant regeneration in rough lemon (<i style="">Citrus jambhiri</i> Lush.)

Abstract

An efficient <i style="">in</i> <i style="">vitro</i> regeneration system for rough lemon (<i style="">Citrus jambhiri</i> Lush.) was established. The effect of explants and combinations of plant growth regulators was evaluated on the efficiency of plant regeneration. The epicotyl segments placed horizontally on culture media proved to be the best for bud induction. The bud induction frequency of 83.97% was obtained on MS medium supplemented with BA 0.5 mg L^-1 with an average of 8.6 buds per explant. Explants with proliferated buds were transferred to elongation media in order to improve the recovery of normal shoots. Higher number of elongated shoots was obtained on MS medium having BA (0.5 mg L^-1)+GA₃ (1.0 mg L^-1). The elongatedshoots were then rooted on MS medium containing NAA (1.0 mg L^-1)+IBA (1.0 mg L^-1) with high (77%) rooting percentage. The plantlet survival was 96%, when plantlets were transferred to plastic bags containing a mixture of garden soil and vermiculite (1:1). The hardened plants were successfully established in the soil.