Effect of Antioxidants on in vitro Exudation of Phenolic Compounds and Regeneration in Cultured Explants of Guava Rootstocks

The present investigation was conducted in the Department of Horticulture, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar in collaboration with Centre for Plant Biotechnology, Haryana State Council for Science and Technology, Department of Science and Technology, Government of Haryana at CCS HAU Campus, Hisar, India during 20082011. The in vitro phenol exudation during micropropagation was studied using the explants shoot tip and nodal segment from three guava species (Psidium guajava cv. Lucknow-49, P. friedrichsthalianum (Chinese guava) and P. cattleianum var. lucidum (Strawberry guava). Among the various antiphenolic treatments, the explants treated with ascorbic acid (0.2%) + citric acid (0.4%) solution for 12 minutes followed by subculturing next day of inoculation into MS media supplemented with 2.0mg/l BAP resulted in minimum phenolic exudation and ultimately led to the in vitro establishment of explants. Explants collected in the months of April, May and June showed minimum intensity of phenol exudation and maximum culture establishment.