Occurrence of in vitro flowering  in coconut  (Cocos  nucifera  L.)

M.  Shareefa; Thomas   R. J.; J.S.  Sreelekshmi; K  Anitha

Occurrence of in vitro flowering in coconut (Cocos nucifera L.)

Autores

Editor

Society for Promotion of Horticulture

Descripción

Immature inflorescence with outer spathe length of 5.5 cm size collected from West CoastTall cultivar of coconut was used as the explant and rachillae bits were inoculated in Y3 mediasupplemented with 2, 4-D (1 mg L-1). The cultures were incubated in dark for eight monthsand sub-cultured into the same media at monthly interval. The white shoot like outgrowthsformed were sub cultured to ½ MS media fortified with 1 mg L-1 each of NAA and BAP andsubsequently transferred to light condition. After three months, the emerging shoot likestructure was transferred to Y3 media fortified with NAA and BAP. Upon developing 3 - 4leaves, the cultures were transferred to rooting media and root initiation was observed aftertwo months. The transition of vegetative shoot to reproductive state was accompanied bysome morphological changes including rapid emergence of long and thin leaves followed byemergence of pearly white inflorescence. Unlike normal inflorescence, the inflorescenceemerged was terminal and was devoid of spathe. Prolonged subculture in the same mediamight have resulted in pH variation and subsequent reduction in organic and inorganicconstituents of the media. The chemical stress experienced by the plantlet might have inducedin vitro flowering.