SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS AND PLANTLET REGENERATION IN MANDARINE (CITRUS-RETICULATA BLANCO)

Callus cultures were initiated from leaf, epicotyl, cotyledon and root segments of in vitro grown nucellar seedlings of Citrus reticulata Bl anco 'Local Sangtra'. Callus initiation was seen on cut ends of all th e explants within 10 days of culture. The epicotyl segments were the b est explant for callus induction. Best callus induction occurred on MS medium containing NAA (10 mg 1(-1)) and kinetin (0.5 mg 1(-1)). MS me dium supplemented with NAA (10 mg 1(-1)), kinetin (1 mg 1(-1)) and vit amins (10 X normal MS levers) were best for induction of somatic embry ogenesis. The epicotyl-derived callus exhibited significantly higher ( 83.0%) mean somatic embryogenesis than calli derived from other explan ts. Most of the somatic embryos germinated like normal embryos, but so me only produced shoots. The time taken for root initiation from separ ated shoots was 7-10 days. The number of roots per shoot and root leng th also varied with culture media. Plantlet survival in vitro was dire ctly proportional to the number of roots produced per shoot. In vitro derived plantlets were successfully transplanted to soil.