Abstract:
Soil salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses affecting growth and productivity of
important crops worldwide. Sugarcane is a glycophyte crop of major economical value in
tropical and subtropical countries of the world where salinity is an ever-increasing problem.
Sugarcane plants grown under stressed conditions show not only arrested growth of various
parts but also a decrease in sucrose content. During the recent years, tissue culture technique
has gained importance in producing plants with improved salt tolerance through selection of
salt-tolerant cells lines and their subsequent regeneration.
During the present work, protocols were established for callus induction, maintenance
and regeneration of the two sugarcane cultivars (cv. SPF 234 and cv. HSF 240). It was
observed that the best medium for callus induction and maintenance was MS medium
supplemented with 13.5 μM 2,4-D. Callus cultures at day 120 were shifted to the various
regeneration media. It was observed that among the different media used, MS medium
supplemented with 8.87 μM BAP and 0.5 μM TDZ was the best in terms of all the growth
parameters studied for both the cultivars. However, the maximum regeneration frequency in
cv. SPF 234 was greater (85 %) as compared to cv. HSF 240 (76 %). Best rooting (95 %) of
the regenerated shoots in cv. SPF 234 was obtained on MS medium supplemented with 2 μM
IBA at day 30. Almost similar results were recorded for in vitro-grown plants of cv. HSF 240
for percentage root formation on MS medium supplemented with 1 or 2 μM IBA with 94 and
93 % rooting respectively. Hardening of sugarcane plants was also successfully
accomplished for both the sugarcane cultivars.
