INDUCTION OF HAPLOID CALLUS AND EMBRYOGENESIS IN IN-VITRO CULTURED ANTHERS OF MULBERRY (MORUS-INDICA)

Anthers of Morus indica L., with microspores at the uninucleate stage were cultured; and the influence of temperature and kinetin pretreatme nt on induction of androgenic calluses was examined. The effects of va rious pretreatments revealed that 24 h cold pretreatment increased the percentage of cultures inducing callus. First microspore division was observed after 16 to 20 days of culture. Th anthers split and develop ed embryogenic calluses on MB medium supplemented with NAA (0.5 mg 1(- 1)) and BA (1.0 mg 1(-1)) using 8% sucrose. Rhizogenesis was induced o n medium supplemented with NAA and BA (each 0.5 mg 1(-1)) with reduced myo-inositol (75 mg 1(-1)). Cytological study of induced roots confir med the haploid nature of calluses. Different type of embryos were ini tiated upon transfer of calluses to medium supplemented with NAA, BA ( each 0.5 mg 1(-1)), 2,4-D (1.0 mg 1(-1)) and PVP (600 mg 1(-1)). These embryoids further developed roots on removal of 2,4-D from the medium and developed precociously without developing cotyledons and formed e longated shoots.