In vitro Growth and Shoot Multiplication of Achras zapota in a Controlled Carbon Dioxide Environment

Abstract

The culture vessels with multiplying shoots of Achras zapota L. on Schenk and Hildebrandt (SH) medium containing 8.88 μM 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) with or without sucrose were kept under varied CO2 concentrations ranging from 0.6 to 40.0 g m-3 using different concentrations of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), potassium bicarbonate (KHCO3), and potassium carbonate (K2CO3) in small acrylic chambers. Complete absence of carbon source caused death of shoots within 20 d. Under elevated concentrations of CO2 (10.0 and 40.0 g m-3) the shoots grew photoautotrophically on sucrose-free medium. The growth of cultures was better at 40.0 g (CO2) m-3 than on 3.0 % sucrose under ambient air of growth room. However, the best response was obtained at 10.0 g (CO2) m-3 and 3.0 % sucrose where maximum number of shoots, shoot length, fresh and dry mass, total number of leaves and leaf area was observed.