Effect of sterilization procedure on percentage of explants survived after 10 and 25 days of pepino (Solanum muricatum Ait.) cv. Valentia

Pepino (Solanum muricatum) is a native plant of Andes region, of South America. The crop has medicinal value and is not used extensively for cultivation. It has extensive adaptation to various countries such as Spain, New Zealand, Turkey, Israel, USA, Japan, etc. Its fruits juicy, soft, sour and fragrant, berries rich in antioxidant, antigly-cative, dietary fiber and low calorie content. The method of micro propagation of pepino from nodal segments and leaves was developed with surface sterilization. The effect of various surface sterilization agent mercuric chloride (HgCl₂ 0.1%), ethanol (70%), mercuric chloride (HgCl₂ (0.1%) + ethanol (70%), sodium hypochlorite (NaoCl) (70%) and mercuric chloride (HgCl₂ 0.1%) + fungicide (Bavistin 0.15%) used under the in-vitro culture with four treatment periods (1.5, 3.0, 4.5, 6.0 minutes) explants survival percentage recorded after 10 days and 25 days. The low survival rate (2.85) percent was noted after 25 days under control and the high survival rate (78.65) percent was noted after 10 days under HgCl₂ (0.1%) with duration 4.5 minutes duration. A small survival percentage (7.08) percent was noted after 25 days under control and a high survival percentage (65.44) percent recognized after 10 days under ethanol (70%) with duration of 4.5 minutes. Minimum survival (3.33) Percent was noted after 25 days under control and high survival rate (78.45) percent observed after 10 days under mercuric chloride (0.1%) + ethanol (70%) treated for 4.5 minutes. A low survival rate (3.81) percent was observed after 25 days under control and a high survival rate (71.47) percent was observed after 10 days under sodium hypochlorite (NaoCl) (70%) treating of 4.5 minutes. A low survival rate (7.34) percent was observed after 25 days under control and a high survival rate (83.23) percent was observed after 10 days under mercuric chloride (HgCl₂ 0.1%) + fungicide (bavistin 0.15%) treated for a period of 4.5 minutes. In view of the results of the current study, it is generally concluded that the survival rate of testers was highly monitored within 4.5 minute after 10 to 25 days.