IN-VITRO CULTURE OF ALBEDO TISSUE FROM FRUITS OF CITRUS-SINENSIS CV WASHINGTON NAVEL - EFFECT OF FRUIT AGE AND ORANGE JUICE

Callus from citrus fruit explants has been used to study different asp ects of fruit physiology. However, growth responses of callus derived from citrus fruit tissues are not always comparable with those of inta ct fruit; there are, for example, differences in nutritional requireme nts. Results with tissues cultivated in vitro seem to depend on a vari ety of environmental and internal factors. In the present work albedo tissue from fruits of Citrus sinensis cv. Washington Navel of differen t age has been used as a source of explants. The growth (fresh weight) of the calli was dependent on the age of the fruit from which the exp lants were taken, as well as on the addition of orange juice to the pl ant growth medium. Orange juice stimulated the growth of the calli and this growth was greater as the fruit age increased. The highest value s were obtained when the albedo was isolated from fruits 30 to 45 mm i n diameter and grown on medium supplemented with 20% orange juice.