Thumbnail Image

Theses

Browse

19961
Reset filters
Subject: Economic Botany and Plant Genetic Resources × Author: Sheeba, P T × Start date: 1996 ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Induction of autotetraploid in ginger
    (Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1996) Sheeba, P T; KAU; Alice, Kurian
    A study was conducted at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during the year 1994-95 with a view to induce autotetraploids and to create variability in ginger. Induction of autotetraploidy was tried in four commercial varieties of ginger namely Himachal Pradesh, Maran, Nadia and Rio-de-Janeiro using three concentrations of colchicines (0.10, 0.25 and 0.40%) and two methods of application (injection and hole). The effect of colchicines on survival of plants and cytomorphological characters were recorded. Colchicine treatment by the hole method reduced the survival of plants which decreased with increase in concentration. The colchicines treated plants showed slower initial growth which exceeded the control during later stage of growth. Number of tillers, number of leaves and leaf area were not significantly influenced by colchicines treatment. Application of colchicines at low concentration is advocated in ginger to have a stimulatory effect on biometric characters. Hole method of treatment was preferential to injection in having a positive influence on biometric characters. With respect to yield, colchicines at the lowest concentration of 0.10 per cent applied by hole method recorded the highest yield. Stomatal size and frequency were not significantly influenced by varieties, concentrations and methods of application. Individual plants with fewer stomata and larger size were isolated as suspected autotetraploids. Out of the thirteen plants, plants with 2n = 44 against 2n = 22 in control were confirmed as autotetraploids. Two autotetraploids were derived from the variety Himachal Pradesh treated with 0.25 per cent colchicine by injection method and Rio-de-Janeiro treated with 0.10 per cent colchicines by hole method. The autotetraploids were characterized by slower initial growth which surpassed the diploid control during later stages, reduced number of tillers and leaves with increased leaf area and larger epidermal cells and stomata with reduced number/mm2 of leaf. The autotetraploid derived from Rio-de-Janeiro showed increased pollen fertility than the diploid. The autotetraploids recorded higher rhizome yield than the corresponding diploids consistently during the second year also. Morphological variants with higher yield potential than the autotetraploids were also screened out for further evaluation.