Quercetin and silver nitrate modulate organogenesis in Carissa carandas (L.)

An in vitro organogenesis protocol for Carissa carandas L. was developed using an auxin transport inhibitor (quercetin) and silver nitrate (AgNO3), an inhibitor of ethylene action, in association with cytokinins in the culture medium. This protocol produced the maximum number of shoots from aseptic seedling-derived shoot apex explants of C. carandas. The highest rate of shoot multiplication was recorded on MS medium containing 2.0 mg L−1 6-benzylaminopurine; 0.5 mg L−1 kinetin, and 0.75 mg L−1 quercetin at after 4 wk of culture. Similar results were obtained when MS medium fortified with 2.0 mg L−1 BAP, 0.5 mg L−1 kinetin, and 1.5 mg L−1 AgNO3 was used. However, successful rooting was achieved on quarter strength MS medium with 0.5 mg L−1 indole-3-acetic acid. In this study, an inhibitor of auxin transport and ethylene action maximized shoot multiplication in medium fortified with cytokinins. The established rapid micropropagation method could be used to conserve elite genotypes of C. carandas.