Biotechnological optimization of In Vitro embryo rescue in citrus: Impact of explant size and cytokinin gradients on germination efficiency

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Published

2026-06-30

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58993/ijh/2026.83.2.3

Keywords:

Embryo rescue, 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), in vitro morphogenesis, Citrus species, explant physiology.
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Vol. 83 No. 02 (2026): Indian Journal of Horticulture

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Research Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 Shivam .; Amarjeet Kaur

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Authors

  • Shivam . PG Department of Agriculture (Horticulture), Khalsa College, Amritsar 143002, Punjab, India
  • Amarjeet Kaur PG Department of Agriculture (Horticulture), Khalsa College, Amritsar 143002, Punjab, India

Abstract

This study investigated the biochemical impact of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and initial explant size on the in vitro morphogenesis of five Citrus species: C. aurantifolia, C. limon, C. sinensis cv. Mosambi, C. reticulata cv. Kinnow, and C. reticulata Blanco cv. Nagpur mandarin. Mature embryos were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium integrated with varying cytokinin gradients (0–3 mg/L BAP). Our data reveals a significant species-specific threshold for germination, with C. limon and C. reticulata cv. Kinnow achieving 100% efficiency at an optimal concentration of 2 mg/L BAP. Conversely, concentrations exceeding this limit (3 mg/L) induced an inhibitory effect, likely due to supra-optimal hormonal signaling. Furthermore, a positive correlation was established between explant dimensions and regenerative capacity; larger embryos (7.0–11.0 mm) consistently outperformed smaller cohorts (<5 mm), with C. limon reaching a peak germination rate of 98.46%. These findings provide a refined biotechnological protocol for embryo rescue, essential for overcoming reproductive barriers and accelerating genetic improvement programs in polyembryonic Citrus cultivars.

How to Cite

., S., & Kaur, A. (2026). Biotechnological optimization of In Vitro embryo rescue in citrus: Impact of explant size and cytokinin gradients on germination efficiency. Indian Journal of Horticulture, 83(02), 144–149. https://doi.org/10.58993/ijh/2026.83.2.3

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Author Biography

Amarjeet Kaur, PG Department of Agriculture (Horticulture), Khalsa College, Amritsar 143002, Punjab, India

P.G DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

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