In vitro effect of nitrogen in large scalepropagation of three cultivar of tomato (lycopersicon esculentum mill.)

The effect of nitrogen was investigated on the micro propagation of three cultivars (Angoorlata, K5-7, A3ad-8) of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum MILL.) to overcome the challenges related to its cultivation. Sterilized seeds of three cultivars were transferred on hormone free medium and used stem as explants for culture initiation. The stemexplant was cultured on MS medium fortified with BAP (0.5-5.0mg/l) along with Kn(0.5-5.0mg/l), maximum shoot multiplication were recorded on BAP (3mg/l) in cultivars. Six weeks old multiple shoots were transferred on modified MS medium containing Ca (NO3)2.4H2O (50-300 N mg/l), KNO3 (50-300 Nmg/l) with BAP (2.5mg/l) were observed. The highest shoot multiple on MS medium with Ca(NO3)2.4H2O (50-300 N mg/l), KNO3 (50-300 N mg/l) with BAP (2.5mg/l) in Angoorlata, K5-7 and A3ad-8. Moreover, 80% of them were able to re-grow when sub-cultured on same media. The multiple shoots were transferred on MS medium with or without nitrogen IAA(0.5-2.0 mg/l), IBA(0.5-2.0 mg/l) and α-NAA(0.5-2.0 mg/l) for rooting find out to be best and observed IAA (1mg/l)gives maximum best rooting for all cultivars. With calcium nitrate and potassium nitrate were recorded. Healthy rooted plantlets were transferred on hardening mixture of Farmyard manure: Garden soil. Plantlets were shifted in mist house for acclimatization. 87% plants survival rate in Angoorlata and K5-7 (82%) and 78% plant survival rate in A3ad-8 cultivar were recorded seven weeks old plants.