Effect of Sucrose on Growth and Chlorophyll Synthesis of Teak Shoots in Mixotrophic Culture

Abstract

Clonally propagated shoots of teak (Tectona grandis Linn) were cultured in vitro under photomixotrophlc (sucrose 10-40 g l^-1) and photoautotrophic (sucrose-free medium) conditions in MS medium containing kinetin and benzyl amino purine (0.1 mg l^-1 each). Sucrose concentrations were gradually depleted in mixotrophic cultures. Growth and fresh weight of shoot chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll content of leaves were estimated. In sucrose-free medium, growth and chlorophyll synthesis decreased after limited period of 2-3 subcultures, whereas they got stimulated under photomixotrophic condition with 10-30 g l^-1 sucrose; optimum being the medium with 30 g l^-1 sucrose. Higher concentration of sucrose (40 g l^-1) inhibited shoot growth. Shoots can tolerate gradual depletion of sucrose upto a limit of 5 g l^-1 under mixotrophic condition.