Development of an efficient protocol for production of healthy sugarcane seed cane through Meristem culture

Abstract

Healthy seeds are a prerequisite for improving the productivity of sugarcane crop. The best way to ensure the production of disease-free sugarcane seeds is via a technique called ‘Meristem Culture’ (Tissue Culture). An efficient protocol for meristem culture of sugarcane has been developed in this study. The potting mix for the survival of meristem cultured plantlets in a greenhouse was standardized, and agronomy for growing tissue culture plantlets in the field was developed. Multiple shoots were observed on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium supplemented with BAP 0.2 ​mg/l and Kinetin 0.1 ​mg/l. Best rooting was observed on MS media supplemented with IAA 1 ​mg/l and NAA 1 ​mg/l. Soil mixture containing [Soil ​+ ​Vermiculite ​+ ​Sand in 4: 1: 1 proportion (by volume)] ​+ ​Vermicompost @ 25% by volume of medium ​+ ​NPK is best suited for hardening tissue cultured plants in a greenhouse. Two feet distance between 2 plants and 3 feet distance between 2 rows was found as an appropriate method for planting tissue cultured plantlets in the field. Setts obtained from tissue cultured plants planted at 15 ​cm spacing gave higher yield than the other spacing. Setts obtained from micro-propagated plants (M) gave the highest yield as compared to setts from conventional sugarcane raising. The protocol developed in this study, shows potential for development of sugarcane meristem cultured plantlets and use of these plants for planting in field to obtain healthy sugarcane seed.

Keywords

• Biotechnology
• Protocol
• Sugarcane
• Seed
• Tissue culture