In vitro Multiplication and Genetic Fidelity Studies in Cleopatra Mandarin (Citrus reshni Tanaka)

The present investigation was undertaken for in vitro multiplication of Cleopatra mandarin using nodal segment explants. Nodal segments taken from 9 years old plant in the month of March - April were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium supplemented with BAP 0.5 mg/l + Kin 0.5 mg/l for establishment. Various concentrations of auxins viz. IAA and NAA were used singly or in combination with cytokinins (Kinetin and BAP) for shoot multiplication. Maximum number of shootlets per sprouted bud (8.2 ± 0.22) and maximum length of shootlets (3.0 ± 0.12cm) were recorded when auxins were used in combination with cytokinins at a concentration of NAA 0.3 mg/l + BAP 1.0 mg/l. Full strength MS media fortified with 1mg/l IBA was used for rooting of multiplied shoots and was kept in potting media containing sand, soil and vermi compost in 1:1:1 ratio for hardening.In vitro raised plants were examined for genetic stability by using RAPD primers. Out of fifty primers screened, eleven primers produced amplification while thirty-nine primers did not show any amplification. All RAPD profile for in vitro raised plants were monomorphic and similar to their mother plant, which showed that all the plants raised through micropropagation were true to type.