Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials
Open Access

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 soil rite 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 Glomusmosseae 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.

Biography

D H Tejavathi is working as UGC-BSR Faculty Fellow in the Department of Botany, Bangalore University, India. She has published 78 research articles in various national and international journals and completed 8 research projects funded by DST, CSIR, BU-UGC and MoEF, India. She has successfully guided 20 research students for PhD degree and 15 students for MPhil degree. She was conferred with an award ?Merit of Excellence? for outstanding contribution to the Medicinal plant research during the 4th International Conference on Medicinal plants and herbal products held at John Hopkins University, Rockville, M.D, USA,2012.