IN-VITRO FLOWERING OF FORTUNELLA-HINDSII (CHAMP)

Branch internodes of mature plants and stem internodes of seedlings of Fortunella hindsii flowered in vitro on half-strength MT (Murashige a nd Tucker 1969) basal medium supplemented with benzyladenine, adenine, 6-gamma-gamma-dimethylallylaminopurine and kinetin. The highest perce ntage of flowering was achieved with explants originating from branch internodes of flowering plants close to the apex on half-strength MT b asal medium containing 5% sucrose and 0.01 mg l(-1) BA in light. Expos ure td darkness for more than 3 weeks followed by re-exposure to light reduced flowering. Flowering required a 4-day exposure to BA, but sho ot formation could be initiated even without exposure to BA. First bra nch internode segments on MT basal medium containing 5% sucrose were p rolific in flower (85%) production. The sucrose treatment affected the flower bud size distribution. There were about 13 Bower buds per cult ure in the largest size category (>5 mm).