In vitro micropropagation of bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria; Cucurbitaceae): prospective rootstocks for the grafting of watermelon and other cucurbits.

摘要

An efficient and novel method was developed to initiate multiple shoots from the cotyledonary node of bottle gourd (L. siceraria). A method for surface sterilization of seeds was developed, which gave more than 95% germination, through the in vitro-grown seedlings. The seeds of bottle gourd cultivars Bari Lao, Khat Lao, Yu-Gao and Hyo-Tan and inbred line Barsa-F were used. The 7 days old explants were cultured on a Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal nutrient medium containing plant growth regulators (cytokinin or auxin-cytokinin) with various combinations and concentrations for the study of shoot induction. The highest number of shoots (7 shoots per explant) was obtained in inbred line Barsa-F cultured in MS medium supplemented with 2 mg BA [benzyladenine]/l under 16 h photoperiod. However, significant genotypic variations were observed among the genotypes. Kinetin showed the highest percentage of shoot regeneration from bud, ranging from 92.9 to 100%, but induced less buds as well as less shoots, 4.25 shoots per explant. Elongated shoots were successfully rooted on a half strength MS medium with 0.1 mg IAA/l for 2-3 weeks. Regenerated plants were acclimatized and grown into normal plants in the field..