Standardization Of Macro And Micro Propagation Techniques For Mulberry (Morus alba L.)

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted during March to September, 2014 in Khulna University campus. The first experiment was carried out to find a proper substrate for propagation of mulberry by stem cuttings in shed house of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Laboratory, Agrotechnology Discipline, Khulna University. Fifteen types of different substrates were used. Cuttings from one year old mature branches with three potential buds were planted into media in 4" × 5" size poly bag. From the study, the highest number of shoot was achieved from sand + CAP (2.0) and coconut coir (2.0). Average length of shoot was highest in sand (13.98 cm). Maximum average number of leaf was observed from sand media (8.4). The highest average number of root was count from cuttings planted in sand + CAP (3.48). Maximum average length of root was recorded from sand + Agronourish media (3.59 cm). For maximum average diameter of root, sand (2.43 mm), sand + CAP (2.46 mm), sand + Agronourish (2.44 mm), coconut coir (2.49 mm) and coconut coir + CAP (2.47 mm) were the best. Maximum root fresh weight was recorded from sand + Agronourish (1.43 g). But the highest root biomass was achieved from sand + CAP (0.82 g). The highest fresh weight was obtained from sand (2.13 g), sand + CAP (2.23 g), sand + Agronourish (2.83 g), coconut coir (2.65 g) and coconut coir + CAP (2.52 g). Plants both in sand + CAP (0.58 g) and sand + Agronourish (0.6 g) produced the maximum average amount of shoot biomass. For leaf area index, sand + CAP (5.73), sand + Agronourish (5.74) and coconut coir + CAP (5.8) were the best. In the second experiment, effect of different hormonal combination was tested for micropropagation of mulberry. Direct shoot regeneration of mulberry was achieved by culturing nodal segment with axillary buds using ½ strength MS medium fortified with N⁶-benzylaminopurine (BAP), Kinetin (Kn) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). There were six different doses of BAP combined with NAA. Investigation was conducted on frequency of proliferation of explants (%), average length of shoot (mm) and average number of leaf after 30 days of inoculation. From the statistical analysis of data, no significant difference found among the treatments for frequency of proliferation of explants (%). For the average length of shoot (mm), the doses of hormones showed highly significant effect. The highest average length of shoot (19.77) found from BAP 0.5 mg L⁻¹ + NAA 0.5 mg L⁻¹. The maximum average leaf number (4.8) was achieved from Kn 1.0 mg L⁻¹ in association with NAA 0.5 mg L⁻¹.