The Effect of Improvised Media and Gelling Agents on In Vitro Germination of Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum. L.)

Özet

The significance of cotton can hardly be over emphasized in Turkish economy as it contributes momentously to agricultural value added products. The success of propagating cotton in in vitro conditions or to modify it genetically largely depends on an efficient, reproducible and cost effective protocol for in vitro germination of seeds, seedlings development and different explant sources. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of different media (various sucrose concentrations) and gelling agents (Agar and Phytagel) on in vitro germination and seedling growth of different cotton cultivars. Results showed that MS medium devoid of sucrose contents induced maximum germination rates. The decreased sucrose concentration resulted in increased germination rates. Furthermore, experiments with different concentrations of gelling agents exhibited that MS media supplemented with 0.4 (w/v) % Phytagel results in induction of maximum in vitro germination rates; leading to robust seedling development suitable for further in vitro propagation experiments. According to our knowledge, this is the first report of increased germination rates of cotton cultivars incubated on MS media without the presence of sucrose; hence MS medium devoid of sucrose and solidified with 0.4% of Phytagel is most suitable for in vitro seed germination of cotton cultivars to obtained healthy seedlings in a shorter period.