Intercropping of Rice (Oryza sativa) Varieties AT 401 and AT 402 with Green Gram ( Vigna radiata) and Radish (Raphanus sativus) in in vitro Condition

Abstract

A major problem encountered in tropical agriculture is the reduced soil fertility due to monoculture. Therefore, there is a need to improve productivity of soil by using environmental friendly methods. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the major staple food in the tropics and green gram (Vigna radiata L. variety; Ml 5) is a major legume which is intercropping with rice. Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) is a popular vegetable with edible root and leaves. Present study was focused on investigating the effect of green gram and radish, on vegetative growth of improved rice varieties AT 401 and AT 402 under in vitroconditions. Seeds of two rice varieties, green gram and radish were cultured in Murashige and Skoog basal Medium (MS). Treatments were; AT 401 with green gram, AT 401 with Radish, AT 402 with green gram, AT 401 with radish, green gram with radish, sole AT 401, sole AT 402, sole green gram and sole radish. Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replicates was used. Statistical analysis was carried out using the Student Newman-Kuells Means Separation. Height, weight of each plant and number of tillers in rice varieties were recorded 30 days after planting. Vegetative growth of rice varieties AT 401 and AT 402 were significantly enhanced by intercropping with radish when comparing to the sole AT 401 and sole AT 402 showing, mean plant weight (0.3g, 0.3 lg) and number of tillers (5, 7) respectively. It was reduced with green gram under in vitroconditions displaying m eanplantw eight(0.2g,0.08g)andnum beroftillers(l, 1), respectively.