EFFECT OF SURFACE STERILIZATION ON IN VITRO SURVIVAL OF EXPLANTS OF NONI (Morinda citrifolia L.)
Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu, India
ABSTRACT
In vitro studies were undertaken to investigate the effect of different concentrations of mercuric chloride, sodium hypochlorite and calcium hypochlorite in combination with different time durations on the survival percentage of nodal segment, shoot tip and leaf bit explants of noni (Morinda citrifolia L.). Surface sterilization with mercuric chloride @ 0.1 per cent for 4 minutes recorded the highest survival of 82.59, 84.26, and 76.53 per cent in nodal segment, shoot tip and leaf bit explants respectively and was found to be a strong surface sterilant. Treatment with sodium hypochlorite @ 2 per cent for 10 minutes resulted in survival of 71.99, 78.79 and 66.15 per cent in nodal segment, shoot tip and leaf bit explants respectively. Calcium hypochlorite @ 5 per cent recorded the survival of 64.23, 70.17, and 60.57 per cent in nodal segment, shoot tip and leaf bit explants and was found to be a weak surface sterilant for surface sterilization of noni.
