Effect of gelling agents on shoot growth and multiple shoot formation of mangosteen

Abstract

Apomict seeds of mangosteen were cultured as a whole or half seed on MS medium supplemented with 5 mg/l 6-benzyladenine (BA). The medium was solidified with various gelling agents. After culture for 2 months, multiple shoot formation, morphological and physiological characters of the shoot were investigated. The results revealed that 1.5% agarose gave the highest seed forming shoot (98%) and number of shoots per culture seed (20.7). Wounding the seed by sectioning into half promoted higher callus formation (47-88%) in all gelling agents. Phytagel (0.17%) resulted in the highest callus formation (100%) and hyperhydric shoots (11-31%). Those shoots produced translucent, thin and brittle leaves and stems, and malformed stoma. Those leaves had the lowest content of chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll.

Keywords

• mangosteen
• multiple shoot
• gelling agent
• hyperhydricity
• chlorophyll content