In vitro flowering and fruiting in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)

In vitro flowering and fruiting were induced in plants regenerated from calli of leaf explants of Lycopersicon esculentum var. Pant 11. MS medium supplemented with 2 mg/l BAP displayed the best response followed by MS with 2 mg/l BAP, 1 mg/ l ABA and 0.5 mg/l IAA. Flower buds were developed both directly from callus and regenerated plantlets from leaf explants under 16 h (39.3 μmol m-2s-1) photoperiod. They opened only under continuous dim light (2.2 μmol m-2s-1) within 116 days of initial culture. Flowering was not observed in dark. Average number of flower buds per explant was found to be 10.8. Maximum pollen fertility was 71.4 % with an average pollen diameter of 0.52 mm and thickness 0.26 μm. Fruits were set in vitro within 162 days following self-pollination. Subsequently leaf and stem explants from seven other varieties viz. KS118, PP2, Le 3704, Le 79, No. 324, Cl 9 d 0-0-6-3 and Pant 5 were evaluated on MS with 2 mg/l BAP for bud induction. All the varieties produced flower buds in vitro. However, only KS118 could produce fully bloom flowers. Profuse callus induction and simultaneous shoot bud regeneration were observed in all the varieties.