Callus formation versus differentiation of cultured barley embryos: Hormonal and ostomic interactions

Summary The effect of various plant growth substances as single agents was evaluated in a complex tissue culture system: whole embryo culture of early differentiating barley embryos. Callus formation in unsupplemented medium derives from the mesocotyl and is uniquely characteristic of cultures initiated at this stage of embryonic development. This phenomenon could be prevented or reversed by incorporation of gibberellic acid in the medium resulting in plantlet formation. Indoleacetic acid enhanced callus growth, whereas kinetin did not promote either callus or meristematic development. Callus tissue markedly accumulated starch, effectively lowering the cellular osmolarity, while inducing a corresponding rise in the osmolarity of the culture medium. This osmotic pattern was reversed by gibberellic acid induction of shoot formation. Thise osmotic-hormonal interactions are interpreted relative to in vivo, in situ normal embryogeny or developmental lesions such as tumours. Research supported by Inst. Grant No. 994.     

Effet de l'osmolarité et de la composition du milieu sur la callogénèse,la caulogénèse et la rhizogénèse de fragments d'hypocotyles deBrassica oleracea L. var.botrytis

Callus formation by fragments of cauliflower hypocotyls was favoured by raising culture medium osmolarity above ?0.38 MPa. Increase in sucrose concentration while diminishing macronutrients inhibited callus initiation and growth. Root formation by the same material required a low medium osmolarity (?0.19 MPa). Reducing sucrose concentration in the classical Murashige and Skoog rooting culture medium favoured root formation. Adventitious bud formation was also depending upon medium osmolarity besides the need for a cytokinin. Reducing too much the osmotic potential of the medium had an unfavourable effect on bud neoformation. The importance of sucrose in all these processes is pointed out.     

Effects of Gibberellic Acid and Abscisic Acid on Shoot Formation in Tobacco Callus Cultures

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. W. 38) callus grown on a shoot-forming medium was exposed to gibberellic acid (GA₃) and abscisic acid (ABA) for varying lengths of time and at different periods during culture. The results suggest that if the tissue accumulated sufficient GA₃ prior to the initiation of meristemoids and shoot primordia, repression of shoot formation occurred. This repression was not reversed by increasing the levels of auxin or cytokinin in the medium, but ABA could partially overcome the GA₃ repression of shoot formation.     

Plant regeneration from callus and protoplasts of Brassica nigra (IC 257) through somatic embryogenesis

A method to obtain plants from embryogenic callus of Brassica nigra and protoplasts of hypocotyl expiants is described. Callus was initiated on Murashige and Skoog medium containing kinetin (kn) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D). Lowering of auxin induced embryo formation. Supplementation with gibberellic acid (GA₃) enhanced embryogenic response tenfold. Passage through liquid medium devoid of growth regulators was essential for the growth of embryos. Secondary embryos were produced on transfer to solid basal medium. Embryogenic callus retained its morphogenic ability even after 12 subcultures. Both primary and secondary embryos produced fertile plants. Hypocotyl-derived protoplasts were also regenerated to plants following the same protocol. The survival of plants on transfer to soil was about 80%. The seeds from plants derived from callus and protoplasts were viable.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid - NAA naphthalene acetic acid - IAA indole acetic acid - kn kinetin - GA₃ gibberellic acid     

Growth and organogenesis in moth bean callus cultures as influenced by triazole growth regulators and gibberellic acid

The triazole plant growth regulators, paclobutrazol and uniconazole, reduced in vitro growth of moth bean callus by 20–25% when added to the culture medium at 1 mg/L (3.4 μM). The addition of 10 mg/L (29 μM) gibberellic acid (GA₃) to the culture medium in combination with the triazoles restored callus growth to a level equivalent to that of the untreated control. GA₃ alone had little effect on callus growth. When added to a regeneration medium at 1 mg/L both paclobutrazol and uniconazole reduced the percentage of cultures that formed roots, as well as the mean number of roots per culture. In contrast, GA₃ increased root formation and counteracted the inhibitory effects of the triazoles on rooting. The addition of triazoles or GA₃ to the regeneration medium reduced the formation of green meristematic nodules, which are precursors of shoots in moth bean callus. When callus was grown in the presence of either paclobutrazol or uniconazole, subsequent root and green meristematic nodule formation were reduced upon transfer to a growth regulator-free regeneration medium. The results of this study indicate that exposure of moth bean callus tissue to micromolar concentrations of triazoles or GA₃ can significantly alter in vitro growth and differentiation.     

Effects of medium components and light on callus induction, growth, and frond regeneration in Lemna gibba (Duckweed)

Summary Basal media, plant growth regulator type and concentration, sucrose, and light were examined for their effects on duckweed (Lemna gibba) frond proliferation, callus induction and growth, and frond regeneration. Murashige and Skoog medium proved best for callus induction and growth, while Schenk and Hildebrandt medium proved best for frond proliferation. The ability of auxin to induce callus was associated with the relative strength of the four auxins tested, with 20 or 50 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid giving the highest frequency (10%) of fronds producing callus. Auxin combinations did not improve callus induction frequency. Auxin in combination with other plant growth regulators was needed for long-term callus growth; the two superior plant growth regulator combinations were 10 μM naphthaleneacetic acid, 10 μM gibberellic acid, and 2 μM benzyladenine with either 1 or 20 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Three percent sucrose was best for callus induction and growth. Callus induction and growth required light. Callus that proliferated from each frond’s meristematic zone contained a mixture of dedifferentiated and somewhat organized cell masses. Continual callus selection was required to produce mostly dedifferentiated, slow-growing callus cell lines. Frond regeneration occurred on Schenk and Hildebrandt medium without plant growth regulators but was promoted by 1 μM benzyladenine. Callus maintained its ability to regenerate fronds for at least 10 mo. Regenerated fronds showed a slower growth rate than normal fronds and a low percentage of abnormal morphologies that reverted to normal after one or two subcultures.     

Plant regeneration through somatic embryogenesis in root-derived callus of ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer)

Summary Callus culture was initiated from expiants of mature root tissues of ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) on MS medium enriched with 2,4-D. The ageing callus produced numerous embryoids in this medium. Reculture of these embryoids in media (1/2 MS or B5) supplemented with benzyladenine and gibberellic acid resulted in profuse plantlet regeneration.     

Tissue Culture of Maize I. Callus Induction and Growth

Callus induction and subculture was successful with mature embryos and stem sections of seedlings of Zea mays L. on Linsmaier and Skoog's medium modified to contain 4 mg/I of 2,4-D and 1 g/I of casamino acids. — 2,4-D was superior to NAA and IAA for both callus induction and growth. Callus subcultured on NAA formed abundant roots on agar-solidified media and numerous root-like primordia in liquid cultures. — Kinetin had no effect on callus induction in the presence of 2,4-D and neither kinetin nor gibberellic acid stimulated callus growth during subculture. — Callus grew equally well on the medium of Linsmaier and Skoog, that of Schenk and Hildebrandt, and the B-5 medium of Gamborg and Eveleigh containing 2% sucrose, 4 mg/I of 2,4-D and 1 g/I of casamino acids. — The callus grew more rapidly at 25°C than at 30°C or 35°C. Little difference was noted at any temperature in callus growth in alternating light (16 h) and dark (8 h) or continuous dark. — Sucrose was superior to glucose and maltose in both liquid and agar-solidified cultures. Lactose and galactose failed to support callus growth.     

Establishment of callus,cell suspension and shoot cultures of Leonurus cardiaca L. and diterpene analysis

Summary Callus cultures, cell suspension cultures and shoot cultures of Leonurus cardiaca L. (Motherwort) were established and growth conditions optimized. Shoot cultures showed constant growth whether in the dark or under continuous light, accumulating varying amounts of the furanic labdane diterpenes leosibiricin, preleosibirin, leosibirin and isoballotenol acetate, which are also present in the soil-grown plants. Only traces of leosibiricin were detected in callus cultures, while cell suspension cultures did not produce any furanic diterpenes. A small amount of furanic labdane diterpenes was found in the medium of shoot cultures. Callus and shoot culture induction of several other Lamiaceae species is also described.Abbreviations 2 4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - BAP benzylaminopurine - GA₃ gibberellic acid - HPLC high pressure liquid chromatography - NAA naphthyl acetic acid - TLC thin layer chromatography     

Growth and organogenesis in moth bean callus cultures as influenced by triazole growth regulators and gibberellic acid

The triazole plant growth regulators, paclobutrazol and uniconazole, reduced in vitro growth of moth bean callus by 20–25% when added to the culture medium at 1 mg/L (3.4 M). The addition of 10 mg/L (29 M) gibberellic acid (GA₃) to the culture medium in combination with the triazoles restored callus growth to a level equivalent to that of the untreated control. GA₃ alone had little effect on callus growth. When added to a regeneration medium at 1 mg/L both paclobutrazol and uniconazole reduced the percentage of cultures that formed roots, as well as the mean number of roots per culture. In contrast, GA₃ increased root formation and counteracted the inhibitory effects of the triazoles on rooting. The addition of triazoles or GA₃ to the regeneration medium reduced the formation of green meristematic nodules, which are precursors of shoots in moth bean callus. When callus was grown in the presence of either paclobutrazol or uniconazole, subsequent root and green meristematic nodule formation were reduced upon transfer to a growth regulator-free regeneration medium. The results of this study indicate that exposure of moth bean callus tissue to micromolar concentrations of triazoles or GA₃ can significantly alter in vitro growth and differentiation.     

Anthocyanin production in callus cultures of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.)

Callus tissues derived from seedlings of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) were shown to produce two cyanidin glycosides as major anthocyanin pigments. Both callus growth and anthocyanin synthesis were remarkably stimulated by 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. The highest anthocyanin yield was observed when 1 M 2,4-D in combination with 0.1–1 M kinetin was supplemented to the culture medium. In contrast, gibberellic acid showed inhibitory effect on anthocyanin production.Abbreviations LS Linsmaier and Skoog - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - NAA 1-naphthaleneacetic acid - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - IBA indole-3-butyric acid - GA gibberellic acid     

Starch Metabolism, Respiration, and Shoot Formation in Tobacco Callus Cultures

The starch content of shoot-forming and non-shoot-forming tobacco callus cultured in light and darkness was determined. A variety of carbohydrates and cytokinins incorporated into the culture medium were effective in bringing about starch accumulation and shoot formation in the tissue. In addition, the respiratory activity of the callus, grown in the presence or absence of gibberellic acid, was measured. A strong correlation between the starch content of the tissue, its rate of respiration, and shoot formation was observed.     

In vitro culture of lemon juice vesicles

This study explores the possibility of culturing Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f. cv. Eureka (lemon) juice vesicles as isolated intact tissues capable of retaining their unique growth structure in vitro. Isolated juice vesicles either attached to or detached from the endocarp/mesocarp (albedo) tissue of origin were grown on various nutrient media using several physical environments. Various growth responses achieved in vitro from cultured vesicles are described. Intact vesicles attached to endocarp/mesocarp tissue were found to grow up to 6 months in culture as a distinct tissue with a minimum of adverse callus proliferation. Callus formation from some cultured explants occurred on all media and physical environments tested. Callus production eventually obliterated and irreversibly altered the normal development of juice vesicles. Inherent vesicle physiology rather than the tissue culture environment was the major determining factor affecting culture growth. Reducing the concentration of carbohydrates (fructose, glucose or sucrose) added to media from 3 to 0.01% or 0.0% reduced, but still did not totally prevent, callus production. Treatment of vesicles with 1000 mg/l ascorbic acid or citric acid, or 0.1 mg/l indole-3-acetic acid or abscisic acid enhanced the occurrence of normal appearing vesicles.Mention of a trade name or proprietary product or vendor does not constitute approval or guarantee of the product by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products that may also be suitable.     

Plant regeneration through somatic embryogenesis from spear callus culture of Asparagus cooperi Baker

Somatic embryogenesis and plantlet formation were obtained from callus derived from the subapical region of spears of Asparagus cooperi Baker. Callus was obtained in Murashige and Skoog's medium supplemented with 1-naphthaleneacetic acid and kinetin. Increase in the concentration of potassium nitrate in subsequent subcultures resulted in the formation of embryos. Rapid multiplication of embryos was secured on transfer to a medium containing a different source of nitrogen and a low level (0.01 mg/1) of gibberellic acid. Media containing zeatin or gibberellic acid led to the formation of complete plantlets from embryos. Regenerated plants were cytologically and phenotypically stable.Abbreviations IBA Indole-3-butyric acid - NAA 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid - 2ip (2-Isopentenyl) adenine - BAP 6-Benzylaminopurine, GA,, Gibberellin - ABA Abscisic acid - MS Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium     

Plantlets from somatic callus tissue of the woody legume Sesbania bispinosa (Jacq.) W. F. Wight

In vitro regeneration of plantlets and multiplication of Sesbania bispinosa (Jacq.) W.F. Wight plants from cultured callus tissue were demonstrated. Callus was established from both cotyledons and mature leaflets on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with BAP (0.5 mg/l) and 2,4-D (2 mg/l). Callus mediated shoot bud differentiation was studied under defined nutritional, hormonal and cultural conditions. Various concentrations of BAP or kinetin (Kn) with coconut milk (CM) in MS media induced different levels of shoot bud differentiation as well as multiplication. Multiple shoot bud differentiation occurred in most of the primary calli. The best medium for shoot bud differentiation from cotyledon derived callus, contained BAP (2 mg/l) and 15% CM (V/V). More efficient shoot bud organogenesis was recorded with BAP than Kn. Supplementation with CM in MS media accelerated shoot bud organogenesis in differentiating callus tissue. Rooting of differentiated shoots was achieved by a three step culture procedure involving (a) MS solid medium containing IBA (2 mg/l), (b) growth regulator free half strength MS medium with 1% charcoal, and (c) half strength MS liquid medium free of vitamins, growth regulators and charcoal.Abbreviations IAA indoleacetic acid - IBA indole-3-butyric acid - NAA naphthaleneacetic acid - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - Kn kinetin - CM coconut milk - MS Murashige and Skoog's medium - SBI shoot bud inducing medium     

DIFFERENCES IN NITROGEN REQUIREMENTS OF TWO CLONES OF CONVOLVULUS ARVENSIS IN VITRO

Various nitrogen sources were shown to alter the growth and modify nitrate reductase activities of stem callus tissue derived from two clones of Convolvulus arvensis L. (field bindweed). Callus from a Washington (S) clone grew better and had a higher level of nitrate reductase activity than callus from a New Mexico (R) clone when nitrate was the only source of nitrogen available in the culture medium. The addition of glycine to the culture medium decreased growth of the R clone and increased growth of the S clone, but glutamic acid repressed growth of both clones. An amide source of nitrogen such as glutamine or asparagine, or ammonium was required to produce maximum growth of both bindweed clones. Glutamine increased nitrate reductase activity in the two clones, and glycine increased nitrate reductase activity in the S clone but decreased it in the R clone. Glutamic acid decreased nitrate reductase activities in both the R and S tissues.     

Evidence for plantlet regeneration via somatic embryogenesis in the grasses Echinochloa muricata and E. crus-galli var. Oryzicola

Explants for tissue culture were derived from mesocotyl plate tissue of Echinocha crus-galli var. oryzicola and E. muricata seedlings germinated under anaerobic conditions. Callus was initiated in the dark under aerobic conditions on a modified Murashige and Skoog medium plus 10 or 5 mg/l 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 2 mg/l of 6-benzyl-aminopurine (BAP). Transfer of this callus tissue into the light on MS medium containing low auxin (≤ 5 mg/l) readily resulted in the formation of green plantlets. Scanning electron microscopic observations revealed that regeneration occured through the formation of somatic embryros. Capacity for regeneration is maintained after repeated callus subculture. This regenerative capacity via somatic embyros provides a valuable research system for continuing the study of the metabolism and developmental physiology of Echinochloa.     

Ascorbic acid enhancement of organogenesis in tobacco callus

The effect of ascorbic acid on growth and shoot formation in callus cultures of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) was investigated, using young (4–12 subcultures) and old (more than 30 subcultures) tissue. It was found that ascorbate, at levels of 4–8×10^-4M, enhanced shoot formation in both young and old callus. Treatment with ascorbate also speeded up the shoot-forming process. In addition, ascorbate completely reversed the inhibition of shoot formation by gibberellic acid in young callus, but was less effective in old callus.     

Callus induction and thallus regeneration in some species of red algae

Callus induction was obtained from axenic explants of 14 species of red algae. ASP12NTA solid medium (1.5% agar) supplemented with indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) was used for callus induction. In most of the species, addition of IAA or BAP at 0.1 mg/L or 1.0 mg/L enhanced callus induction rate or callus size. The combination of IAA (0.1 mg/L) and BAP (0.1 mg/L) was more effective among eight species, while high concentrations of IAA (10 mg/L) showed an inhibitory effect. Great variation in callus form, source tissue, and color of the induced callus were observed. The callus mainly originated from medullary and cortical tissue of the explant. Callus with filamentous, oval and spherical cell chains or disorganized cell mass was observed. The excised calluses from the explants of six species showed sustained growth on subculture. On transfer of the subdivided callus mass of seven species to PES liquid medium, shoot formation and thallus regeneration were observed.     

Regulation of Medicago sativa L. somatic embryogenesis by gibberellins

The influence of exogenous gibberellic acid (GA₃) andpaclobutrazol, an inhibitor of gibberellin biosynthesis, on growth of callusandsomatic embryogenesis in petiole-derived tissue cultures of Medicagosativa L. has been investigated. GA₃ (0.5–500M) or paclobutrazol(5–100 M) were added to either an induction (with 2,4 Dand kinetin) or a differentiation medium (without plant growth regulators).Gibberellin A₃, applied during the induction as well as thedifferentiation stage, reduced the weight of callus and increased the number ofsomatic embryos in Medicago sativa L. tissue cultures.Somatic embryo production was increased more by the presence of exogenousGA₃ in the differentiation than induction medium. The inclusion ofpaclobutrazol in the induction or differentiation medium caused the inhibitionof callus growth and embryo production. Callus growth was much less affectedthan embryogenesis. These results indicate that gibberellins are beneficial forboth embryoinduction and formation. The level of endogenous gibberellins is presumablysufficient for callus induction and growth. However, it seems not optimal forthe induction and particularly for the differentiation of embryos.