Effect of plant derived gelling agents as agar substitute in micropropagation of mulberry (Morus indica L. cv. S-1635)

The design and adoption of cost efficient tissue culture protocols is a prerequisite in the adoption of the low cost tissue culture technology in developing countries. Three plant derived gelling agents namely corn flour (Zea mays var. amylacea), Cassava powder (Manihot esculenta) and arrowroot (Maranta arundinaceae) and their combinations with agar have been tested in search of a alternative and cost effective potential gelling agent for mulberry (Morus indica L. cv. S-1635) micropropagation. It was found that corn flour at 22 g l-1 in combination with 3.5 gl-1 agar produced significantly higher and healthy micro- shoots of length (4.57 ± 0.32 cm) among the treatments. The selected plant derived alternative gelling agents are easily available in the market and can be added with ease thereby, serving as inexpensive substitute of agar.