African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 3 (6), pp. 319-323, June 2004
ISSN 1684–5315 © 2004 Academic Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of nitrates on embryo induction efficiency in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Ikram-ul-Haq* and Yusuf Zafar

Plant Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Jhang Road, P. O. Box 577, Faisalabad, Pakistan.

*Corresponding author: E-mail: ikramnibge@yahoo.com

Accepted 8 April 2004

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cv Coker-312 callus culture was assessed in terms of its usefulness as a system for investigating the effect of nitrates from different chemical compounds of nitrogen on embryo induction percentage in calli as the plant growth and cell differentiation mainly based on nitrogen. Both sources and amount of nitrogen in in vitro medium have significant effects mainly on cell growth, embryogenesis and the production of anthocyanin. Anthocyanin production is the best indication of inhibition of cell growth in in vitro culture of cotton. Embryo induction rate was high when NH₄NO₃ was eliminated from the medium but in the presence of KNO₃. The dicotyledenary embryos were developed with in 5 weeks, these embryos developed into normal plantlets immediately when they were cultured on a simple MS basal medium supplemented with 3% glucose.

Key words: Gossypium hirsutum L, callus induction, somatic embryogenesis, nitrogen sources, plant regeneration.