Studies on in vitro selection of Fe-efficient lines in sugarcane

Abstract

Iron deficiency in sugarcane is common on many calcareous soils of South India. The local cane cultivar Co 740 is found to be Fe-inefficient. During the present investigation callus-derived Fe-efficient lines were obtained through in vitro selectrion on Fe-stress MS medium. The Fe deficient basic medium was created by adding 100 mg CaCO3 and 0.5 mg Fe L-1 as FeEDTA in nutrient solution, and the pH was adjusted to 8.5 to impose stress conditions. The selected callus was used for producing shoot buds. The green shoots were further used for regeneration of roots. These selected seedlings were green, and grew continuously on the Fe-stress medium. © 1990 Kluwer Academic Publishers.