Effect of surface sterilizing agents on in vitro culture establishment of Patharnakh (Pyrus pyrifolia) and Kainth (Pyrus pashia)

This experiment was done during 2011-13 in Tissue culture laboratory in Department of Fruit Science, PAU, Ludhiana. Nodal segments were obtained from shoots put forth by the sprouted buds of forced cuttings of Patharnakh and Kainth grown in growth chamber. Two sterilising agents namely mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl2) at varied concentrations and durations were tested for sterilization of Patharnakh and Kainth. The results indicated that HgCl2 proved better in terms of aseptic culture (%) and survival (%) than NaOCl2 in both Patharnakh and Kainth. HgCl2 (0.2%) proved better than HgCl2 (0.1 %) resulting in higher aseptic culture in Patharnakh (66.56 %) and Kainth (51.36 %). Five minute treatment of HgCl2 (0.2 %) resulted in significantly higher aseptic cultures in Patharnakh (89.49 %) and Kainth (94.85 %) than other durations. However, significantly higher explant survival of Patharnakh (78.71 %) and Kainth (72.30 %) was obtained by using HgCl2 (0.1%) for 5 minutes.