Assessing the Impact of Watershed Development on Energy Efficiency in Groundnut Production Using DEA Approach in the Semi-Arid Tropics of Southern India

High frequency plant regeneration from cotyledonary node explants of Cucumis sativus L. cultivar 'Green Long' via adventitious shoot organogenesis and assessment of genetic fidelity by RAPD-PCR technology

Influence of cytokinins, silver nitrate (AgNO₃) and auxins on plant regeneration from cucumber was investigated. The cotyledonary node explants were cultured on MS medium augmented with various concentrations (0.5-2.5 mg l^-1) of 6-benzyl amino purine (BAP) and kinetin (KIN) for shoot bud induction. BAP at 1.5 mg l^-1 was found to be the best concentration for induction of high frequency of multiple shoots (98.4%). Interestingly, maximum percent of multiple shoot regeneration (100%) as well as number of shoot buds (54.6 shoots/culture) was recorded on MS medium containing the combination of 4.5 mg l^-1 AgNO₃ and 1.5 mg l^-1 BAP. Multiple shoot bud regeneration frequency as well as the number of shoots was positively correlated with the concentrations of AgNO₃. Addition of silver nitrate in the medium not only enhanced the rate of multiple shoot bud regeneration but also elongation of shoot buds was observed. The highest percent of rooting (96.2%) was noticed on a medium containing the combination of indole 3-butyric acid (IBA), 1.5 mg l^-1 and KIN 0.5 mg l^-1. Acclimatized plantlets were successfully established in the field where the survival rate observed was 72%. The RAPD profiles of in vitro regenerated plants were found to be highly monomorphic and identical banding pattern with mother plant. DNA fingerprinting results confirmed that the tissue culture plantlets were found to be true-to-type. The present study describes efficient protocol for high frequency plant regeneration via adventitious shoot organogenesis in cucumber.

Biotechnological applications in in vitro plant regeneration studies of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica), an important vegetable crop

Biotechnology holds promise for genetic improvement of important vegetable crops. Broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) is an important vegetable crop of the family Brassicaceae. However, various biotic and abiotic stresses cause enormous crop yield losses during commercial cultivation of broccoli. Establishment of a reliable, reproducible and efficient in vitro plant regeneration system with cell and tissue culture is a vital prerequisite for biotechnological application of crop improvement programme. An in vitro plant regeneration technique refers to culturing, cell division, cell multiplication, de-differentiation and differentiation of cells, protoplasts, tissues and organs on defined liquid/solid medium under aseptic and controlled environment. Recent progress in the field of plant tissue culture has made this area one of the most dynamic and promising in experimental biology. There are many published reports on in vitro plant regeneration studies in broccoli including direct organogenesis, indirect organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis. This review summarizes those plant regeneration studies in broccoli that could be helpful in drawing the attention of the researchers and scientists to work on it to produce healthy, biotic and abiotic stress resistant plant material and to carry out genetic transformation studies for the production of transgenic plants.