R K TyagiGOPALA SUNDARARAJ, S2017-01-132017-01-132008http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/96323T-7976Synthetic seeds were produced from shoot buds of ginger ( Zingiber officinale Rosc.) to investigate their in vitro conversion and storage potential for in vitro conservation and germplasm exchange. Of the various concentrations of sodium alginate (1% - 6%) and the complexation solution of calcium chloride (50 mM – 125 mM), a combination of 4% soidium alginate and 100 mM was most suitable for formation of suitable synthetic seeds. The addition of Ca-free Murashige and Skoog basal medium (MS) plus 3% sucrose to the alginate matrix of synseeds resulted in 100% regrowth, which was similar to that of un-encapsulated shoot buds. Morphogenic responses of synseeds to various media/substrates such as, MS medium, MS + 2.5 mg/l BA, ½ MS medium, ½ MS basal + 2.5 mg/l BA, soilrite mix and soil:Farm Yard Manure (1:1) was evaluated. Of the six planting media/substrate evaluated, shoot development was highest in synseeds cultured on MS medium supplemented with 2.5 mg/l BA. The rooted shoots were retrieved from synseeds in all culture media tested. The percentage of rooted shoots was highest in MS basal medium. Incubation of synseeds at 25 0 C and 16h light condition exhibited 100% regrowth. Synseeds were dehydrated using air, sucrose, and silica to decrease the moisture content for storage. Air dehydration (3h) reduced the moisture content to 38% with 53%regrowth, sucrose dehydration (0.25M sucrose for 16h) reduced the moisture content to 89% with 53% regrowth and silica dehydration (4h) reduced the moisture content to 25% with 53% regrowth. The fresh, air- and sucrose-dehydrated synseeds stored in cryovials for 1 month in dark at 25 0 C to study their suitability for germplasm exchange. For in vitro conservation, synseeds were stored in cryovials at 25 0 C, 15 0 C and 4 0 C for 3 months. Sucrose-dehydrated synseeds stored at 25 0 C and 15 0 C remained viable up to 3 months with 13% shoot recovery. In the sucrose-dehydrated (0.25M for 16h) synseeeds stored at 25 0 C, the shoot recovery was recorded in 73% synseeds, whereas it was recorded as 53% in fresh synseeds after 1 month of storage in dark. These results coupled with better morphogenic response of sucrose-dehydrated synseeds in terms of number of shoots/synseed, number of roots/shoot and root length is highly encouraging for exchange of ginger germplasm. Plantlets regenerated from synseeds (fresh and 0.25M sucrose-dehydrated) hardened with 90% survival in ex vitro conditions.Thesis