Vol. 11, Issue 5 (2022)

Author(s):
Madhuri M, Mali SC, Udutha JV, Senthilkumar V and Joshi AJ

Abstract:
Investigations were made on in vitro response of promising sugarcane clones for drought tolerance and ion accumulation through callus culture using two sugarcane clones 2015 N 475 and 2015 N 1167. Two explant portions of sugarcane clone, leaf whorl and meristem were considered. Different levels of treatment of mannitol (1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 mg/l) were added to basal MS media along with 2,4-D (3.0 mg/l) at callus development stages. Mannitol was osmolyte used for inducing drought tolerance. For osmotic stress, lethal dose (LD₅₀) was found to be mannitol (2.0 mg/l). Results showed that parameters such as minimum number of days required for callus induction, maximum callus induction per cent, maximum callus water content, maximum callus relative growth rate, maximum root length, higher shoot: root ratio, maximum leaf area, maximum chlorophyll content, was observed at lower doses of mannitol. Whereas, maximum shoot length, higher proline content, higher Na⁺: K+ ratio, higher Ca⁺² and Mg⁺² ion accumulation were observed at higher concentrations of mannitol. It was concluded that among the explant portions, leaf whorl exhibited better results than meristem.