7^th Asia-Pacific Biotech Congress

Biography

Biography: D.H.Tejavathi

Abstract

Morus indica var. Mysore local is comparatively low yielding. However, its adoptability to low agronomic inputs and poor management practices both under rain fed and irrigated condition make this variety sustainable even though several high yielding varieties are released in the past few decades. Therefore, it is essential to genetically improve the var. Mysore local in respect of better establishment and yield by employing alternate strategies like tissue culture and utilization of AM fungi. Multiple shoots were obtained when nodal segments were cultured on MS supplemented with auxins and/or cytokinins. Thus obtained shoots were rooted on 1/4th strength MS+IBA/NAA. The plantlets were sequentially acclimatized by transferring them to soilrite mixture (Peat:Peralite:Vermiculite- 1:1:1 ratio) in bottles and then to pots containing sterilized soil. One month old normal and micropropagated plants were treated with Glomus mosseae and G.fasciculatum. The micropropagated plants treated with G.fasciculatum were found to be superior in growth performance, contents of primary metabolites, macro and micronutrients than other treatments and control. The leaves showed significantly high percent of moisture content and moisture retention capacity - main determinants of leaf quality. When the silkworm larvae fed with leaves of micropropagated plants treated with G.fasciculatum rearing, grainage and reeling parameters were found to be superior to other samples. Conclusion can be drawn from the present studies that the tissue culture coupled with mycorrhization is an alternate strategy to improve this taxon which is known for its adaptation for low agronomic inputs and can be recommended for cultivation in the areas where there is shortage of rainfall.