In vitro cloning of guava (Psidium guajava']java L.) cv. Pant Prabhat

Guava is one of the most promising fruit crops of India and is considered to be exquisite, nutritionally valuable and remunerative. 'Pant Prabhat', a seedling selection from G.B.P.U.A. & T., Pantnagar has just revolutionized the guava cultivation in Tarai regions of Uttaranchal and adjoining areas due to the fact that it excels over old cultivars; Allahabad Safeda and Sardar regarding quality and yield. Therefore, an attempt was made to develop the protocols for in vitro cloning of cultivar Pant Prabhat. The best aseptic culture as well as survival of explant was obtained when explants were treated with ethyl alcohol (70%) for 30 seconds, mercuric chloride (0.1%) for 5 minutes and sodium hypochloride (1%) for 8 minutes in sequential order. Fortification of 500 mg citric acid, an oxidant to the MS media and initial incubation of cultures in complete dark for 24 hours showed substantial reduction in phenolic browning of media and higher survival of explants. Culturing of nodal segments in MS media containing 4.0 mg/L BA and 0.2 mg/L IBA resulted in higher shoot proliferation, however, higher shoot growth was recorded with 3.0 mg/L BA and 0.2 mg/L IBA. Rooting was induced in half-strength MS medium supplemented with 0.4 mg/L IBA and 0.2 mg/L NAA.