CONTROL OF EXCESSIVE BROWNING DURING IN-VITRO REGENERATION OF MUSA LATERITA.

Abstract

The effect of antioxidants in controlling the phenolic exudation was studied in in-vitro culture of Musa laterita. Citric and ascorbic acids were tried in two different concentrations viz., 50 and 100 mg l^-1 and the explants were treated with antioxidants either prior to inoculation or incorporated into the culture medium. Observations on the phenolic content were recorded at regular intervals of six days up to a period of one month after inoculation. Soaking of explants for 30 minutes in an anti-oxidant solution prior to their culture caused the maximum reduction in phenol content on 24^th DAI from 0.110 and 0.10 to 0.074 and 0.044 per cent at 50 and 100 mg concentrations respectively. In cases, where the antioxidants were incorporated into the culture medium, the reduction was too low. Results showed that the soaking of explants in an antioxidant mixture prior to their culture was effective at both the concentrations in controlling the phenolic exudation.