Vol. 12, Issue 9 (2023)

Author(s):
Swarnalata Das, Prakshyati Satpathy, Mamata Behera and Birajita Priyadarshini

Abstract:
Study on ex-vivo variation in auxin response of tomato genotypes has certain novelty as auxin is an important plant growth regulator. Significance of such variation in relation to yielding ability is quite interesting. In the present investigation, stem cuttings from epicotyls region of 25-30 days old seedlings of twenty two genotypes were treated with kept in IBA solution of 500 ppm concentration for 45 seconds to take observation on the root length (longest), roots produced from stem cutting, fresh roots weight and frequency of rooted cuttings. Coefficient of variation due to genotypes (GCV) for number of induced roots, root length and fresh root weight was 34.88, 29.84 and 51.15. The genotypes showed wide variation in their auxin induced rooting index (ARI) values that ranged from 0.25 to 3.50 with an average of 1.93. Based on ARI value tomato genotypes were classified as low auxin response (LAR) group and high auxin response (HAR) group. The mean ARI value of HAR group was 3.200 whereas it was 0.875 in case of LAR group. The frequency of high yielders in HAR group was 0.80 and that of in LAR group it was 0.17. ARI parameter exhibited significant and positive correlation with yielding ability (0.562). The relationship between auxin response and yield was confirmed from 2 x 2 contingency χ2 test. This study suggests that auxin sensitivity may be used as an alternative approach for screening of tomato genotypes having high yield potential. This approach is simple and cost effective.