Micropropagation and genetic fidelity analysis using SCoT marker in Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels

This study optimized in vitro regeneration of Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels and validated clonal fidelity using Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) markers. Cytokinins significantly affected the plant height, shoot number and leaf number. The tallest shoots were obtained with 3 mg/L of kinetin (2.96 ± 0.21 cm), while the greatest shoot proliferation and leaf production (9.09 ± 1.02 shoots; 24.25 ± 2.53 leaves per explant) were obtained with 2 mg/L of BAP. Auxins significantly affected all growth characteristics. The maximum shoot height (4.25 ± 0.42 cm) was obtained at 2 mg/L of IAA and the best rooting (3.09 ± 0.21 roots; 3.21 ± 0.51 cm root length) was also observed with this concentration of IAA. NAA (2 mg/L) inhibited morphogenesis and stimulated callus. The genetic fidelity of 20 regenerated plantlets was assessed by 20 SCoT primers producing 162 scorable bands (8.1 bands/primer) in the range of 250–2500 bp. No polymorphism was detected in comparison to the donor plant, confirming true-to-type regeneration. Optimum BAP (2 mg/L) was used for shoot and leaf proliferation, kinetin (3 mg/L) for shoot elongation and IAA (2 mg/L) for root induction and elongation. The SCoT profiles validated the protocol for large scale propagation and conservation of S. cumini.