Strategies for marigold micro-propagation to mitigate physiological disorders

Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.), holds significance for traditional medicine and ornamental gardening in India. This study investigates the optimization of micropropagation in cultivars Pusa Narangi Gainda and Pusa Basanti Gainda, via axillary shoot tip culture through germinated seedlings. It emphasizes the impact of hormone concentrations on shoot multiplication, vitrification, and related physiological responses, including the activities of key enzymes like chitinase and β-glucanase. Elevated cytokinin levels were found to suppress shoot growth and induce oxidative stress, evidenced by increased malondialdehyde and enzyme activity. The research identifies critical factors influencing vitrification through correlation analysis, PCA, and eigen analysis, offering strategies to enhance marigold micropropagation and reduce physiological disorders. Notably, this is the first report documenting chitinase and β-glucanase activity in marigolds.