Overcome the seasonal constraint for somatic embryogenesis using in vitro leaf explants and genetic fidelity testing of sapindus mukorossi

Abstract

Sapindus mukorossi is an imperative medicinal and economical tree. The fruit of this tree is as a primary source of saponins. The aim of the current study was to develop a regeneration protocol of Sapindus plant from in vitro leaf explants to overcome the seasonal constraints. An efficient somatic embryogenesis protocol was developed by using in vitro leaf explants. Maximum callusing was found in MS medium supplemented with BAP. All the calli (100%) produced somatic embryos and a number of somatic embryos (47.10±1.04a) were observed on MS medium supplemented with 8.88 µM BAP. Maximum maturation percentage of somatic embryos (95.52±0.31a) was observed on MS medium supplemented with 4% w/v sucrose and 0.0378 µM abscisic acid (ABA). Highest germination percentage of somatic embryos (77.79±0.66a) was observed on MS basal medium having 4% w/v sucrose and 4.44 µM BAP. About 80% plants survived in field condition and grew well. The field transferred plants showed similar morphology as the mother plants. Random amplified polymorphic-DNA and inter-simple sequence repeats analysis also showed analogous banding pattern with mother plants that indicated there are no somaclonal variations. © 2020 Indian National Science Academy. All rights reserved.