In vitro regeneration of Mango (Mangifera indica L.) cv. Baramasi through nucellar embryogenesis

Vegetative propagation via grafting is a common method to propagate mono-embryonic mango (Mangifera indica L.) varieties in Oman which is time consuming and expensive. Standardize in-vitro regeneration protocol in producing true-to-type, disease free and homogeneous high quality plants is prerequisite. Nucellar tissues from immature mango fruits of mono-embryonic cv. Baramasi were used as explants to induce somatic embryogenesis and plantlets regeneration. Several media compositions were evaluated for all the four stages that is, induction, conversion, maturation and germination. Modified Gamborg’s B5 major salts, MS minor salts, iron source and organics were used as basal media with varying hormone concentrations. The highest number of callused explants (12.6) was observed in induction media 1 (IND1) containing 1 mg/l 2, 4-D, 0.25 mg/l BAP, 400 mg/l L-glutamine and 500 mg/l malt extract. About 49.6% callus produced somatic embryos (SEs) and maximum 69.7 SEs were proliferated from each embryogenic callus in conversion media 2 (CM2) having 0.5 mg/l BAP. The highest germination (35.9%) with well-developed shoot, leaves and roots was observed in germination media 5 (GM5) containing 0.1 mg/l IAA, 1 mg/l Kinetin and 0.5 mg/l GA3. About 65% of transplanted plants are still surviving in green house conditions even after 4 months of transfer.   Key words:  Nucellar embryogenesis, mono-embryonic, genotype, callus, germination, maturation, induction, basal media.