Recovering vitrified carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) shoots using Bacto-Peptone and its subfractions

Vitrified shoots regenerated from carnation petals (Dianthus caryophyllus L. cv. Scania) were recovered by culturing them in a medium containing 3.0 g/l Bacto-Peptone. Wax structures not found on vitrified shoots developed on the abaxial surface of leaves of recovered shoots and on those of normal leaves. Recovered shoots were rooted and successfully acclimatized while vitrified shoots could not survive the acclimatization process. The Bacto-Peptone solution was fractionated and the efficiency of each fraction for the recovery of vitrification was examined. Only basic, non high molecular fractions whose molecular weight was less than 10,000 were effective.     

An in vitro microplant bioassay using clonal white ash to test for tall fescue allelopathy

Axillary shoots from three selected white ash (Fraxinus americana L.) clones were harvested from in vitro shoot cultures. Roots were initiated by pulsing excised shoots for eight days in the dark in MS medium supplemented with 2% sucrose, 0.7% agar, 5 M NAA, and 1 M IBA. Pulsed shoots were transferred to a root elongation medium consisting of 25% MS macrosalts, full-strength microsalts and organics, 1% sucrose, 0.7% agar and no auxins. When roots were visible (6–10 days after transfer to root elongation medium), microplants were transferred to vessels containing the same minimal medium and tall fescue (Festuca elatior var. arundinacea (Schreb.) Wimm.) leaf extracts, leaf leachates, or soil leachates from plant boxes with and without tall fescue sod. After four weeks in vitro, primary adventitious and secondary root growth was reduced by extracts obtained from 5 and 10 g ground leaves per 100 ml of medium. Leachates obtained from 5 g soaked leaves per 100 ml of medium stimulated primary root growth. Soil leachates from bare soil also stimulated primary root growth. Variation was observed among the clones for root growth when plantlets were grown in extracts or leachates from tall fescue.     

Somatic hybrids of Datura innoxia Mill.+Datura discolor Bernh. and of Datura innoxia Mill.+Datura stramonium L. var tatula L.

Summary Following fusion of protoplasts from a chlorophyll-deficient diploid mutant of Datura innoxia Mill. which can be regenerated to shoots, with green wild-type protoplasts of Datura stramonium L. var. tatula L. which can not, it was possible to isolate 49 green hybrid calli on agar medium. Most of these somatic hybrid calli gave rise to leaves and shoots. The chromosome numbers of the somatic hybrids were determined: 15 were tetraploid (amphidiploid), 24 hexaploid, and the other showed an aneuploid chromosome number.In a similar experiment protoplasts of the Datura innoxia mutant were fused with green wild-type protoplasts of Datura discolor Bernh. which are also not able to be regenerated, four green calli were obtained from which leaves and shoots developed after some transfers on agar medium. Three of them showed the amphidiploid (48) chromosome number, whereas one possessed an aneuploid number of 46 chromosomes.After transfer of rooted shoots to soil flowering plants could be obtained in both combinations. The habits of the somatic hybrids in both combinations were intermediate between the habits of the respective parental plants.Dedicated to my father, Prof. Dr. Theodor Schieder, on the occasion of his 70th birthday.     

Efficient rooting for establishment of papaya plantlets by micropropagation

A low cost micropropagation protocol to produce high quality root systems which are easy and economical to acclimatize is essential for large-scale micropropagation of papaya (Carica papaya L.). In this study, individual shoots (>0.5 cm) with 2_∼3 leaves from in vitro papaya multiple shoots were cultured on MS agar medium containing 2.5 μM IBA under dark conditions for 1 week for root induction. They were then transferred to agar or vermiculite media, containing half strength MS medium, under aerated or non-aerated conditions, for root development. Rooting percentage of shoots cultured for 2 weeks in aerated vermiculite was 94.5%, compared with 90.0% in non-aerated vermiculite, 71.1% in aerated agar, and 62.2% in non-aerated agar. Shoots with roots were acclimated in vermiculite under 100% RH for 1 week and then under ambient conditions for 2 weeks in a temperature-controlled growth chamber (28 °C). The survival rates of the plantlets were 94.5% from aerated vermiculite, 87.8% from non-aerated vermiculite, 42.2% from aerated agar, and 35.6% from non-aerated agar. Thus, root induction in low-concentration IBA agar medium followed by root development in vermiculite containing half strength MS medium under aerated conditions results in efficient rooting of in vitro papaya shoots. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Morphological adaptation to water uptake and transport in the poikilohydric moss Tortula ruralis

Abstract

In this paper different water-holding and transport adaptations to face the uneven and intermittent distribution of water in the ectohydric moss Tortula ruralis are referred to.

The external conduction of water is operated by different and efficient systems (spaces between adjacent shoots, between leaves, leaves and stems, leaves and rhizoids, life form, etc.) which facilitate absorption and transport of solutions.

Also epi-organ capillary systems (bases and revoluted margin of leaves, a groove, a close network of capillary channels determined by the papillae), intra-organ capillary systems (hyalocysts) and certain amount of internal conduction (conducting parenchyma, stereoma) co-operante to absorb and distribute water to the whole gametophyte.

In addition, some adaptations to xerophytism and heliophytism (life form, disposition of phylloids, hair-points) are discussed.     

In vitro propagation of birch (Betula verrucosa Ehrh)

Shoot t ps, young internodal segments and young developing leaves ofBetula ver rucosa Ehrh. in contact with agar nutrient medium formed tissue with numerous buds if medium contained a low concentration of cytokinin (BAP) and auxin (IBA or NAA). Tissue with induced buds transferred on a fresh nutrient medium continued in a formation of new buds which developed into shoots. Excised shoots were rooted on agar medium with a low concentration of auxin. Regenerated trees showed a genetic uniformity.     

Effect of agar concentration on growth and anatomy of adventitious shoots of Picea abies (L.) Karst

The development of adventitious shoots of Picea abies was affected by the agar concentration in the culture medium. Increasing the agar concentration from 0.5 to 2.0% decreased vitrification, but at the same time reduced shoot growth and rooting potential. Slightly vitrified plantlets could become acclimatized to greenhouse conditions. The mesophyll of needles developed in vitro was interspersed with large air spaces; the lower the agar concentration, the larger the air spaces. After transfer to the greenhouse, the new needles from the acclimatized plantlets had an anatomy approaching that of plants growing in field.     

Composition of the walls of stem and leaves of vitrifying carnation

Vitrification of stem explants of carnation was brought about by culturing in liquid medium. Cellulose and lignin levels were decreased in vitrified stems and leaves. Isolated cell walls of vitrified tissues were also characterized by low calcium content, low Ca²⁺/uronic acids ratio, low ratio of uronic acids to neutral sugars due to higher amounts of the latters. All these characteristics may account for the high wall plastic potential previously measured in vitrifying internodes.     

Multiple shoot culture of Dianthus caryophyllus using mist culture system

Summary A mist bioreactor system for the plant tissue cultures was developed. Using this system, the growth of Dianthus caryophyllus multiple shoots was directly measured. Tissue growth in mist bioreactor system was far better than that on agar medium and almost comparable to that in liquid medium. The mass increase (final dry weight/initial dry weight) in the mist culture was 2.85 while 3.28 in the liquid flask culture. Shoots were seriously vitrified in flask culture but these vitrifications could be considerably cured by using the mist culture system.     

The influence of cation and gelling agent concentrations on vitrification of apple cultivars in vitro

Shoot tips of York and Vermont Spur Delicious apples (Malus domestica Borkh.) were cultured in vitro to test the influence of K⁺, Mg⁺⁺ and gelling agent concentrations on vitrification. These concentrations were 20.05, 14.05 and 8.05 mM K⁺, 1.5 and 3.0 mM Mg⁺⁺, 7.0 g/l Difco Bacto agar and 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 g/l Gelrite. The lowest K⁺ level produced a higher percentage of vitrified shoots, affected tissue appearance, reduced shoot number and shoot elongation and apparently altered shoot metabolic activity. Gelrite consistently produced vitrified leaves and stems, even though media gelled with 1.5 g/l Gelrite presented the same apparent gel firmness as using 7 g/l Difco Bacto agar, which did not induce vitrification. Less shoot elongation, fewer total shoots, and more usable shoots of York were obtained on Bacto-agar, while similar but less noticeable effects were obtained with Vermont Spur Delicious. The results presented here show that vitrification can be studied in a standardized system in which the only change is substitution of one gelling agent for another.     

Endogenous cytokinins in shoots of Aloe polyphylla cultured in vitro in relation to hyperhydricity, exogenous cytokinins and gelling agents

The process of hyperhydricity in tissue cultured plants of Aloe polyphylla is affected by both applied cytokinins (CKs) and the type of gelling agent used to solidify the medium. Shoots were grown on media with agar or gelrite and supplemented with different concentrations of N⁶-benzyladenine (BA) or zeatin (0, 5 and 15 μM). Endogenous CKs were measured in in vitro regenerants after an 8-weeks cycle to examine whether the hyperhydricity-inducing effect of exogenous CKs and gelling agents is associated with changes in the endogenous CK content. On media with agar a reduction in hyperhydricity occurred, while the gelrite treatment produced both normal and hyperhydric shoots (HS). The content of endogenous CKs, determined by HPLC-mass spectrometry, in the shoots grown on CK-free media comprised isopentenyladenine-, trans-zeatin- and cis-zeatin-type CKs. The application of exogenous CKs resulted in an increase in the CK content of the shoots. Following application of zeatin, dihydrozeatin-type CKs were also detected in the newly-formed shoots. Application of BA to the media led to a transition from isoprenoid CKs to aromatic CKs in the shoots. Shoots grown on gelrite media contained higher levels of endogenous CKs compared to those on agar media. Total CK content of HS was higher than that of normal shoots grown on the same medium. We suggest that the ability of exogenous CKs and gelrite to induce hyperhydricity in shoots of Aloe polyphylla is at least partially due to up-regulation of endogenous CK levels. However, hyperhydricity is a multifactor process in which different factors intervene.     

The use of Agrobacterium rhizogenes transformed roots to obtain transgenic shoots of the apple rootstock Jork 9

The apple rootstock Jork 9 was transformed using four different Agrobacterium rhizogenes virulent strains. The mannopine strain 8196 gave the best results in the production of chimeric plants compared to two agropine strains (A4 and 15834) and one cucumopine strain. Shoot regeneration was performed on both untransformed and transformed roots. Optimum combination and concentration of thidiazuron (TDZ) and -naphtaleneacetic acid (NAA) was different between untransformed and transformed roots. From the transformed roots seven shoots were obtained and propagated as individual clones. All shoots from these clones rooted on a hormone-free medium contrary to untransformed shoots that did not root under similar culture conditions. Differences in the morphology of the leaves and stems were observed between the clones. The transformed status of the different clones was verified with mannopine tests, PCR and Southern blot analyses. Five clones contained the mas1', the ORF 13 and the rolB genes, whereas two clones contained only the rolB gene.     

Isolation of mutants with altered pigments after irradiating haploid protoplasts from Datura innoxia Mill. with X-rays

Summary Ten different mutants with altered pigment patterns were isolated following X-irradiation of approximately 10⁵ haploid protoplasts of Datura innoxia Mill. Seven of the selected strains gave rise to shoots and 3 to leaves only. The mutants were selected from light green or white calli, which had developed 4 weeks after transfer of developing cell clusters onto B₅ agar medium containing 0.5 mg/l BAP (Gamborg et al., 1968). Of the 10 mutant strains 5 were light green, two were yellow, one was pale yellow and one was white. One additional strain does not possess anthocyanin in its stems; a feature chracteristic of the wildtype is the possession of anthocyanin. This strain is able to grow in soil and has now flowered. None of the mutants obtained is haploid. Nine are diploid and the other is tetraploid. The chlorophyll deficient strains can be propagated on B₅ agar medium supplemented with higher concentration of sucrose than normally required for the growth of the wild-type.     

Glutamate dehydrogenase activity in normal and vitrified plants of Agave tequilana Weber propagated in vitro

Agave tequilana stem explants were used to produce adventitious shoots under a set of different water potentials induced by different concentrations of gelrite in the medium. At high water potentials all shoots were vitrified; as the medium water potential became more negative the degree of vitrification decreased but the number of shoots per explant also diminished. The enzymes NADH and NAD-GDH (EC. 1.4.1.2) were measured along the water potential gradient. GDH activity was high in the non-vitrified tissues and decreased significantly in the vitrified ones.Abbreviations GDH glutamate dehydrogenase - MS Murashige and Skoog medium - MSO methionine sulfoximine - PVP polyvinylpolypyrrolidone - GS glutamine synthetase - GOGAT glutamine: oxoglutarate amino transferase     

Regeneration of fertile Arachis paraguariensis plants from callus and suspension cultures

Highly morphogenic callus cultures were isolated from stamens of a wild peanut species, Arachis paraguariensis. These cultures were initiated on modified N6 medium containing 0.2 mg1l^-1 4amino-3,5,6-trichloro-picolinic acid (picloram) and 0.5 mg l^-1 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and were maintained on modified N6 medium with 0.008 mg l^-1 picloram and 0.25 mg l^-1 BAP. Buds formed on the calli growing on the maintenance medium developed into shoots when they were transferred to a MS salts based medium with no hormones. The cultures could also be maintained as a suspension culture in N6 liquid medium. When cell clumps larger tham 840 m were collected from the suspension culture and transferred to MS medium without hormones, they formed shoots in liquid culture. Root formation rarely occurred in agar or liquid cultures. Therefore, grafting to stems of rooted seedlings was used to obtain plants from regenerated shoots. Eight out of 50 field grown plants produced viable seed.     

Influence of agar on in vitro cultures: II. Biological performance of ranunculus on media solidified with three different agar brands

Summary The type of gelling agent can influence to a large extent clonal propagation of Ranunculus asiaticus L. through axillary bud stimulation. In preliminary experiments we identified three agar brands (Oxoid=OX, Merck=MK, and Roth=RT) which affect the availability of water and minerals to tissues in different ways. In the present study we investigate the influence of these agars on the in vitro performance of Ranunculus. On OX and MK gels, growth was satisfactory, although the former had a more promotive effect on fresh and dry weight production and on multiplication rate. Growth and development of shoots were poor on RT; shoot clumps showed symptoms of hyperhydricity, with shoots having large dark-green malformed leaves and very elongated petioles. Epidermal strips of leaves from shoots grown on the different gels and collected at the end of the culture period revealed differences according to the agar brand on which the plantlets were cultured. Severe structural deformations of stomata could be detected on RT-grown shoots. The analyses of the sugar content of the gel at the end of the culture period demonstrated that the explants grown on RT gels are strictly dependent on the carbohydrates in the medium. On OX and MK gels the heterotrophic metabolism was lowered compared to RT-grown explants. The agar brand on which plantlets were grown also influenced water retention capacity and water content of the shoots. Experiments with tritiated water were undertaken to better understand the water fluxes inside the vessel and to investigate the difference in “pump function” exerted by shoots cultured on the three gels. Shoots grown on OX media showed the best “pump function,” which would account for the better results obtained on this gel. On the basis of the relationship between gel properties and the growth of Ranunculus shoots, we conclude that the different physiological responses on the three gels are a reflection of different water and nutrient availability in the different media.     

Plantlet regeneration from cultured leaves of Cydonia oblonga L. (quince)

Summary Adventitious shoots of Cydonia oblonga Quince A were obtained from leaves cultured on MS-N6 medium containing thidiazuron (TDZ) and -naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). The frequency of regeneration was high (78% of the cultured leaves with 3.2 shoots per regenerating leaf) at 32 M TDZ plus 0.3 M NAA on young leaves obtained from micropropagated shoots. Shoots were rooted by culturing them first on medium containing 5 M NAA for one week and then on auxinfree medium for four weeks. The regeneration protocol may be useful for selection of somaclonal variants with increased tolerance to low Fe and for transformation mediated by Agrobacterium.     

Modified hormonal balance in rooting-recalcitrant rac mutant tobacco shoots

ABSTRACT

The rooting-recalcitrant rac tobacco mutant has been multiplied in vitro via outgrowth of axillary buds in parallel to the D8 wild-type. The mutant shoots grew at a lower rate and did not root whatever the treatments, whereas the wild-type shoots rooted spontaneously during the culture cycle without auxin treatment. The mutant and wild-type shoots showed similar peroxidase variations along the culture cycle (21 days) but with higher levels of activity for the rac mutant: minimum peroxidase activity occurred at day 14 in whole shoots of both tobacco genotypes, but already at day 7 in the basal parts of the stems (where roots appear) of the wild-type tobacco, while it was delayed in the mutant. Free and conjugated auxin and polyamine levels were also determined in whole shoots and basal parts of the stems. The rac mutant was characterised by higher auxin and polyamine contents. A peak of auxins and polyamines appeared at day 14 in the whole shoots whatever the tobacco genotype. This peak was delayed in the basal parts of the rac stems compared to the wild-type ones. The mutant shoots contained higher levels of benzyladenine and isopentenyladenosine at the end of the culture cycle, whereas zeatin riboside was more abundant in wild-type shoots. In response to increasing concentrations of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), only the wild-type shoots responded by an increase in growth rate followed by inhibition at high concentrations. The rac shoot responses were very low or nonexistent. Peroxidase activity was also measured in the basal parts of tobacco stems grown in the presence of IBA. Results suggest growth inhibition related to auxin accumulation, possibly combined with elevated putrescine content. Second, rooting induction seems to take place in both tobacco genotypes; however, the process of root formation is blocked in the mutant. The lack of initiation and expression phases of rooting in relation to auxin content in the mutant is discussed.     

In Vitro Organogenetic Responses of Gloriosa superba

An efficient protocol was developed for regeneration of healthy plant derived from six categories of explants from both in vivo and in vitro raised plants, viz. roots, corm buds (dormant and nondormant), young leaves, stems, pedicels, and shoot tips from aerial shoots. MS medium supplemented with various concentrations and combinations of auxin, cytokinin, and organic acids was used. 98% of callus induction occurred in nondormant corm bud explants. The greatest number of multiple shoots (57) was observed in corm-derived calluses. Vigorous root formation occurred in all cases when multiple shoots were derived. Histomorphogenetic studies revealed that not only the origin of shoot and root buds in in vitro systems, but the morphology and structure of leaves resemble those of in vivo plants too.     

玻璃化与正常苹果试管苗的叶片和茎的显微结构比较

以苹果品种‘鲁加5号’试管苗为试材,其用石蜡切片和电镜扫描观察方法,比较玻璃化与正常试管苗叶片和茎的显微结构的结果表明：苹果玻璃化试管苗的叶片和茎的显微结构与正常试管苗有显著差异,前者的叶片厚度变大,表皮细胞密度极低;表皮细胞体积膨大,液泡化,栅栏组织厚度减小,海绵组织厚度增加;气孔器的长轴变化不明显,短轴变宽,气孔密度极高;茎的维管组织中有空洞和塌陷,导管管壁多皱褶,筛管中无淀粉粒积累。