LAUSR

This study deals with in vitro-induced mutagenesis and selection of Phytophthora tolerant lines of Citrus jambhiri and their regeneration. For in vitro-induced mutagenesis, cotyledons were treated with ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) 100, 200 and 300 mm for different time durations viz. 1, 3, 6 and 9 hr. Callus cultures were established from EMS treated cotyledon explants on MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/L of 2,4-D and 500 mg/L of malt extract. Calli derived from cotyledon were challenged in vitro on selective MS medium containing 5%–100% of culture filtrate (CF) of the Phytophthora parasitica. Selected mutagen-treated calli showed resistance in vitro on media containing CF. Calli treated with 100 mm EMS for 6-hr duration showed tolerance (24%) up to 75% CF after 4th selection cycle. While, calli treated with 200 mm for 6-hr duration showed maximum tolerance (76%) up to 75% CF. Resistant calli were then transferred to MS regeneration medium for shoot bud regeneration. A dose-dependent decrease in the regeneration capacity of the selected calli was observed with the increasing concentration of the CF. In randomly amplified polymorphic DNA analysis, plantlets showed different banding pattern in comparison with the control plant, which confirms the presence of variations at genetic level.