Influence of ethylene inhibitor on shoot organogenesis and regeneration in sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrid)

Ethylene is a gaseous plant hormone (phytohormone) that play an important role on in vitro shoot morphogenesis in many plant species. The aim of the present investigation was to critically analyse the role of an ethylene inhibitor i.e. silver nitrate (AgNO₃) on shoot organogenesis in sugarcanecvs. CoJ 83 and CoH 119. Different concentrations of silver nitrate were tested in the medium: 1 mgl⁻¹, 3 mgl⁻¹, 5 mgl⁻¹ and 10 mgl⁻¹. Genotypic dependence was observed between cvs. CoJ 83 and CoH 119 with different concentrations of AgNO₃ tested in the medium. Among the varying concentrations (1–10 mgl⁻¹) of silver nitrate tested, per centage of leaf roll segments responding were improved giving highest number of shoots per explant on MS medium + Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA; 5 mgl⁻¹) + Kinetin (Kin; 0.5 mgl⁻¹) + AgNO₃ (3 mgl⁻¹) in cv. CoJ 83 and on MS medium + NAA (5.5 mgl⁻¹) + Kin (0.5 mgl⁻¹) + AgNO₃ (5 mgl⁻¹). The number of shoots formed per explant increased to two-fold and the shoot length was also increased as compared to control. Data recorded on the number of roots and root length also showed a significant increase over the control in both the varieties.

A ubiquitous hormone, ethylene (C₂H₄), is produced which is associated with poor regeneration and recalcitrant behaviour of culture material during plant tissue culture experiments

In order to study its effect, ethylene production was inhibited in the culture bottles using silver nitrate (AgNO₃)

In two commercial cultivars of sugarcane, a significant enhancement in the per cent establishment of cultures, number of shoots formed per explant, length of shoots, number of roots and root length was observed

Thus, silver nitrate can be included as an ethylene inhibitor in the media used for the tissue culture studies in sugarcane