Biotechnology Laboratory, Division of Horticulture, ICAR Research complex for NEH Region, Barapani 793 103, Meghalaya
* Present address: CPCRI, Kasaragod 671 124, Kerala
** Horticultural Research Station, AAU, Kahikuchi, Guwahati
*** Department of Biotechnology, Guwahati University, Guwahati 781 014
Shoots from in-vitro grown plants (1–2 cm long) of Citrus species, viz. C. reticulata, C. volkameriana, C. reshni and Kinnow (C. nobilis × C. deliciosa) were cultured in Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with sucrose (0, 7.5, 15, 30 and 60 g/litre) and incubated at 25±°C under a photoperiodic regime of 16hr light at an intensity of 3,000 lux at culture level. The tissues were collected 6 weeks after culture and analyzed for various biochemical constituents. Quantitative differences in their relative contents were observed for all the constituents in different levels of sucrose. There was linear increase in all the biochemical constituents on addition of sucrose to the medium. Highest reducing sugars and total chlorophyll were recorded in Citrus volkameriana a vigorous species used as a rootstock.
