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

Downloads

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.
Dimensions Badge

Issue

Vol. 83 No. 02 (2026): Indian Journal of Horticulture

Section

Research Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Shivam .; Amarjeet Kaur

Creative Commons License

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

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

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

P.G DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

References

Blanchard, M. L., Barney, J. N., Averill, K. M., Mohler, C. L., & DiTommaso, A. (2010). Does polyembryony confer a competitive advantage to the invasive perennial vine Vincetoxicum rossicum (Apocynaceae)? American Journal of Botany, 97(2), 251-260. https://doi.org/10.3732/ajb.0900232.

Bond JE, Roose ML (1998) Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of the commercially important citrus cultivar Washington navel orange. Plant Cell Rep 18:229–234

Carvalho, M. P., Santana, D. G., & Ranal, M. A. (2005). Emergência de plântulas de Anacardium humile A. St.-Hil. (Anacardiaceae) avaliada por meio de amostras pequenas. Brazilian Journal of Botany, 28, 627-633. https://doi.org/10.1590/ S0100-84042005000300018

Dutt, M., Vasconcellos, M., & Grosser, J. W. (2010). Effects of various cytokinins on shoot regeneration from leaf explants of commercial Citrus cultivars. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture, 100, 199–207.

FAO (2022). FAOSTAT Statistical Database. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Gercheva, P., & Zhivondov, A. (2001). Embryo rescue of early ripening plum cultivars. In VII International Symposium on Plum and Prune Genetics, Breeding and Pomology 577,165-168. DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2002.577.26

Kaur A. (2001). Morphogenesis and regeneration in some citrus species. MSc thesis, GNDU Amritsar.

Khan, M. M. A., Mohammad, F., & Siddiqui, M. H. (2019). Plant tissue culture: Applications in crop improvement and conservation. Plant Biotechnology Reports, 13, 421–437.

Kishore, K., Monika, N., Rinchen, D., Lepcha, B., & Pandey, B. (2012). Polyembryony and seedling emergence traits in apomictic citrus. Scientia Horticulturae, 138, 101-107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2012.01.035

Liu, W., Chen, X., Liu, G., Liang, Q., He, T., & Feng, J. (2007). Interspecific hybridization of Prunus persica with P. armeniaca and P. salicina using embryo rescue. Plant cell, tissue and organ culture, 88, 289-299. https://doi.org/ 10.1007/s11240-007-9201-z

Murashige T, Skoog F (1962) A revised medium for rapid growth and bioassays with tobacco tissue cultures. Physiol Plant 15:473–497

Pérez-Tornero O, Porras I (2008) Assessment of polyembryony in lemon: rescue and in vitro culture of immature embryos. Plant Cell Tissue Organ Cult 93:173–180

Taiz, l.; & Zeiger, E (2004). Fisiologia vegetal. 3.ed. Porto alegre: artmed editora. P.719.

Tan ML, Song JK, Deng XX (2007) Production of two mandarin × trifoliate orange hybrid populations via embryo rescue with verification by SSR analysis. Euphytica 157:155–160

Verma, Raj & Singh, Sultan & Sehrawat, SK & Beniwal, VS & Kumar, Mukesh. (2007). In vitro germination of acid lime seed. Haryana Journal of Horticulture Science. 36. 271-272.

Viloria Z, Grosser JW, Bracho B (2005) Immature embryo rescue, culture and seedling development of acid citrus fruit derived from interploid hybridization. Plant Cell Tissue Organ Cult 82:159–167

Wakana, A., Ngo, B. X., & Iwamasa, M. (2004). Germinability of embryos during seed development in Citrus (Rutaceae). Journal of the Faculty of Agriculture, 49(1): p049-059

Zhu S, Wu B, Ma Y, Chen J, Zhong G (2013) Obtaining citrus hybrids by in vitro culture of embryos from mature seeds and early identification of hybrid seedlings by allele-specific PCR. Sci Hortic 161:300–305

Zulkarnain, Z., Tapingkae, T., & Taji, A. (2015). Applications of in vitro techniques in plant breeding. Advances in plant breeding strategies: breeding, biotechnology and molecular tools, 293-328. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22521-0_10

Similar Articles

<< < 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.