Plant regeneration protocol of medicinally important <Emphasis Type="Italic">Andrographis paniculata</Emphasis> (Burm. F.) Wallich <Emphasis Type="Italic">ex</Emphasis> Nees via somatic embryogenesis

Summary In vitro propagation of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wallich ex Nees through somatic embryogenesis, and influence of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-1) on induction, maturation, and conversion of somatic embryos were investigated. The concentration of 2,4-D in callus induction medium determined the induction, efficacy of somatic embryogenesis, embryo maturation, and conversion. Friable callus initiated from leaf and internode explants grown on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2.26, 4.52, 6.78, and 9.05μM 2,4-D started to form embryos at 135, 105, 150, and 185d, respectively, after explant establishment. Callus initiated at 13.56μM 2,4-D did not induce embryos even after 240 d, whereas those initiated on MS medium with 4.52μM 2,4-D was most favorable for the formation and maturation of somatic embryos. Callus subcultured on the medium with reduced concentration of 2,4-D (2.26μM) became embryogenic. This embryogenic callus gave rise to the highest number of embryos (mean of 312 embryos) after being transferred to half-strength MS basal liquid medium. The embryos were grown only up to the torpedo stage. A higher frequency of embryos developed from callus initiated on 2.26 or 4.52 μM 2,4-D underwent maturation compared to that initiated on higher concentrations of 2.4-D. The addition of 11.7μM silver nitrate to half-strength MS liquid medium resulted in 71% of embryos undergoing maturation, while 83% of embryos developed into plantlets after being transferred to agar inedium with 0.44 μMN⁶-benzyladenine and 1.44 μM gibberellic acid. Most plantlets (88%) survived under field conditions and were morphologically identical to the parent plant.     

Genotypic variability for callus formation and plant regeneration in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Summary Sixty rice varieties (Oryza sativa L.), belonging to three subspecies, japonica, indica and javanica (some japonicaXindica hybrids were included), were compared for their capacity for callus growth and plant regeneration. Tissue cultures initiated from mature seeds on Murashige and Skoog's (1962) medium with 2 mg/l 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) were transferred to a medium containing 0.02 mg/l 2,4-D and 10 mg/l kinetin, from which plantlets were regenerated. Large variabilities in callus growth and plant regeneration potentials were revealed among the varieties tested. Most japonica varieties formed a callus that weighed more than 100 mg per seed 30 days after inoculation, and showed a relatively high regenerative potential, whereas indica varieties, japonica-indica hybrids and javanica varieties showed poor callus growth and plant regeneration, although considerable varietal variation was observed in each subspecies. The callus growth potential was not correlated with the plant regeneration potential. Histological observations revealed that the epithelium cells of the scutellum mainly proliferated to form a callus, from which shoot and root primordia were differentiated independently from each other. The shoot primordia developed into plantlets when roots were formed adventitiously. In a few cases, shoots and roots were bilaterally initiated from a single primordium.     

Callus initiation and plant regeneration from inflorescence primordia of the intergeneric hybrid Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv.xBromus inermis Leyss. cv. nanus on a modified nutritive medium

Plant regeneration from callus of intergeneric hybrid Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv. x Bromus inermis Leyss cv. nanus (AGROMUS) was carried out on a new culture medium designated medium-F. Within 21 days of the plating of inflorescence primordia the initiated callus showed globular structures. From the 21st day of culture, one step plant regeneration occurred on the callus without subculture. The new basal medium reported in this work was effective in callus initiation and plant regeneration of the hybrid AGROMUS by (i) the reduction of the total ion strength (2.6 g/l, 22.5 mM) of macroelements compared to MS (4.5 g/l,45.2 mM), (ii) the use of NH₄NO₃ as the sole N-source, and (iii) the application of KH₂PO₄ at an 8 times higher concentration (1160 mg/l,8.5 mM) when compared to the Murashige and Skoog medium composition. This medium provided a 2 to 10 fold reduction in the 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid supplement needed for the callus initiation and one step plant regeneration after a gibberellic acid (2 mg/l, for 5 days) pretreatment of tillers. The regenerated plantlets were subcultured in multi-shoot culture and potted in soil to grow for further analysis.Abbreviations AA amino acid medium (Müller and Grafe 1978, Toriyama and Hinata 1985) - B5 Gamborg et al. (1968) medium - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - GA₃ gibberellic acid - MS Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium - NAA naphthaleneacetic acid - N6 Chu et al. (1975) medium - SH Schenk and Hildebrandt (1972) medium - 2,4,5-T 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid     

Plant regeneration in a jute species (C. capsularis) and its possible relationship with glyoxalase-I

Summary The addition of 3 mg/l of nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) to BAP and tyrosine fortified MS medium was essential to obtain organogenic callus from the hypocotyl segments of two varieties (D-154 and CVL-1) of Corchorus capsularis — one of the two jute species. When the organogenic callus, which is rich in large starch granules, was transferred to MS basal medium, it differentiated into single or multiple shoots usually in the first subculture and sometimes in the second. The activity of glyoxalase-I of the organogenic callus was found to be significantly lower than that observed in the nonorganogenic callus initiated on MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D, tyrosine, BAP or just BAP and tyrosine. This suggests an inverse relationship between differentiation and the level of glyoxalase-I activity in the two varieties of C. capsularis jute.Abbreviations BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - CVL 1 Corchorus capsularis var. CVL-1 - D-154 C. capsularis var. D 154 - O-4 C. olitorius var. O-4 - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - IBA indole-3-butyric acid - NDGA nordihydroguaiaretic acid - tyr tyrosine     

Effect of plant growth regulators on morphogenesis and forskolin production in Plectranthus barbatus Andrews

Plectranthus barbatus (syn. Coleus forskohlii) is the only known source of forskolin, a compound with a wide range of pharmacological activities. Here, an efficient protocol for adventitious root regeneration from leaf explants of P. barbatus was developed. Different concentrations of plant growth regulators individually and in combination were used to induce roots in vitro. Morphogenic responses and forskolin production varied depending on the concentrations of plant growth regulators added to the medium. Lower concentrations of auxins trigger callus proliferation while higher concentrations induced adventitious root regeneration. Of all the auxins, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T), 2 (2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy) propionic acid (2,4,5-TP), and 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram) induced callus, whereas α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), indole-3-acetic acid, and indole-3-butyric acid induced rhizogenesis. Use of picloram at 1.0 and 0.5 mg l⁻¹ resulted in the formation of friable callus, and when combined with 0.5 mg l⁻¹ 6-benzylamino purine (BA), rhizogenic callus was produced. The cytokinins BA and kinetin produced a mixed response of multiple shoot regeneration, callus proliferation, and rhizogenesis. The maximum forskolin content of 1,178 mg kg⁻¹ dry weight was found in root cultures initiated on Gamborg’s B₅ medium supplemented with 0.5 mg l⁻¹ NAA. The biosynthesis of forskolin was differentiation dependent, and rhizogenic cultures exhibited the maximum biosynthetic potential for forskolin.     

Rice anther culture: callus initiation and androclonal variation in progenies of regenerated plants

Summary Anthers from rice (Oryza sativa L.) subspecies japonica initiated more callus than their indica or indica x japonica counterparts. A mild stress, either by slow desiccation or heat shock, prior to the plating of anthers enhanced the ability to initiate callus. Slow dessication of anthers enhanced the ability of the japonica anthers to initiate callus even in medium that was supplemented with NaCl. The ability to initiate callus by the anthers plated on NaCl-supplemented medium decreased as the NaCl level in the medium increased. Among the regenerated plants 2.5% were albino and another 2% were haploid. Androclonal variation for tiller numbers, shoot height, plant dry matter and flowering were noticed in the progenies of the regenerated plants.Abbreviations NAA -napthaleneacetic acid - KT Kinetin - 2,4-D 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - IAA Indole-3-acetic acid - BAP N⁶ benzylaminopurine - NFM NaCl-free medium     

Effect of nurse cultures on the production of macro-calli and fertile plants from maize embryogenic suspension culture protoplasts

Fertile plants have been obtained from maize (Zea mays L.) embryogenic suspension culture protoplasts. Friable, embryogenic callus initiated from an immature embryo from a cross involving the genotypes A188, B73, and Black Mexican sweetcorn was used to establish a rapidly growing embryogenic suspension culture. After nine months in culture, high yields of viable protoplasts (30×10⁶/ gram fresh weight) were obtained following a 1.5 hour enzymatic digestion. Protoplasts cultured with feeder cells divided and formed embryogenic callus, from which male and female fertile plants were regenerated. Protoplast-derived R₁ plants were self-pollinated and immature R₂ embryos isolated for callus initiation. Female fertile plants have also been produced from protoplasts isolated from an R₂-derived suspension culture. Significant interactions between protoplast and feeder-cell lines were observed.Abbreviations BC backcross - BMS Black Mexican Sweetcorn - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - PWS protoplast wash solution (0.2 M mannitol, 80 mM CaCl₂) - FDA fluorescein diacetate - ABA abscisic acid     

Plant regeneration from callus culture of Curcuma aromatica and in vitro detection of somaclonal variation through cytophotometric analysis

Callus cultures initiated from shoot base explants of Curcuma aromatica Salisb. were maintained on Murashige and Skoog (MS) media supplemented with 2 mg dm⁻³ 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid alone or with 0.5 mg dm⁻³ kinetin. Plantlets were regenerated from 60 and 180-d-old callus on MS media supplemented with 3 mg dm⁻³ benzyladenine and 0.5 mg dm⁻³ α-naphthalene acetic acid. Approximately 8–10 plantlets were produced after 30–40 d of culture per 50 mg of callus inoculated. Out of 113 regenerants analyzed 85 plants were exclusively diploid and 28 were predominantly diploid revealing presence of polyploid nuclei. Frequency of polyploid cells were more in regenerants obtained from 180-d-old callus then from 6-d-old callus which might be attributed to the ageing of callus.     

Efficient plant regeneration of garlic (Allium Sativum L.) by root-tip culture

Summary Root apices from in vitro cultured garlic (Allium sativum) cloves of cvs. ABEN and GT96-1 were used as axenic explants for organogenic callus production and plant regeneration experiments. Explants cultured in media based on those of Chu and co-workers (N6) or Murashige and Skoog (MS) could induce organogenic callus after 8 wk culture in darkness. Both media were supplemented with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2.2–4.5 μM), alone or combined with 6-furfurylaminopurine (kinetin, 2.3–4.6 μM). Shoots started to grow 3 wk after culturing in the presence of light and the addition to culture media of 4.4 μM N⁶-benzyladenine. Plants capable of producing microbulbs regenerated 6 wk later. Up to 170 plants g⁻¹ FW callus were obtained when culturing was initiated in MS medium supplemented with 4.6 μM kinetin and 4.5 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid.     

In vitro propagation of Lilium testaceum and structural investigation of the storage β-1,4-glucomannan

Bulblet and callus cultures of Lilium testaceum were initiated in vitro from bulbscales. Continous propagation of the bulblet cultures was achieved on a modified Murashige and Skoog agar medium containing 1-naphthalene acetic acid (0.1 mg/l) and kinetin (0.1 mg/l) as phytohormones. The in vitro grown bulbs synthesized large quantities of storage ß-1,4-glucomannans (mannose: glucose = 73; molecular weight = 200 kd) with an identical structure to the glucomannans from the in vivo grown bulbs. Higher 1-naphthalene acetic acid concentrations (1 mg/l) resulted in increased callus formation. Liquid suspension cultures derived from callus exhibited only small amounts of reserve glucomannans.Abbreviations DEAE 2-(diethylamino)ethyl - GF growth factor - GM glucomannan - GPC gel permeation chromatography - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - IEC ion exchange chromatography - MS Murashige and Skoog - MW molecular weight - MWCO molecular weight cut off - NAA 1-naphthalene acetic acid - NMR nuclear magnetic resonance - PVP polyvinylpyrrolidone     

Medium composition and methyl jasmonate influence the amount and spectrum of secondary metabolites in callus cultures of Zanthoxylum stenophyllum Hemsl.

Callus cultures of Zanthoxylum stenophyllum were initiated in vitro and the effect of growth regulators and elicitors was tested both upon callus growth and secondary metabolite production. On a medium containing naphthaleneacetic acid, kinetin, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, a yellowish and friable callus was obtained from 90% of cotyledon explants. Callus growth and secondary metabolite accumulation was followed after sub-culturing the established callus culture on different media containing various hormonal combinations. Results indicate that medium containing naphthaleneacetic acid and a higher concentration of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid gave the highest stimulation of growth. Addition of an organic nitrogen source also had a positive effect on growth. Rapid HPLC screening of methanol extractable secondary metabolites from calluses showed that phytohormones and nutrients were able to modify the chromatographic pattern of compounds. Calluses grown on the medium giving the highest stimulation of growth show a reduced accumulation of some secondary products, but not all. In response to elicitation by methyl jasmonate, metabolite production was different for the different classes of compounds, and hormonal composition of the culture medium influenced the response. Thus, results confirm the importance of the reciprocal interactions between hormones, nutrients, and elicitors when attempts are made to enhance secondary metabolite accumulation in in vitro cultures.     

Induction of pollen callus in anther cultures of Feijoa sellowiana Berg. (Myrtaceae)

Summary Anthers of Feijoa sellowiana Berg. (feijoa) produced pollen callus when cultured in Murashige and Skoog medium containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and benzyladenine or in nurse cultures. Somatic callus was also formed in large amounts from the connective and from the cut end of the filament. Anthers containing microspores at the stage immediately prior to the first pollen mitosis cultured in the presence of 3% sucrose, presented the highest frequencies of induction. Androgenetic divisions were initiated by the formation of two morphologically equal cells, the so-called B-pathway. Attempts to regenerate pollen plants were unsuccessful but leaf-like structures could be obtained in regeneration media containing combinations of gibberellic acid and benzyladenine.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-diclorophenoxyacetic acid - BA benzyladenine - FDA fluorescein diacetate - GA₃ gibberellic acid - Kn kinetin - MS Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium     

In vitro cold storage of cork oak shoot cultures

Friable callus cultures were initiated from cotyledons and hypocotyls of Opuntia ficus-indica. Explants from cotyledons produced significantly more callus than those from hypocotyls. Optimum callus growth was observed on Murashige & Skoog medium supplemented with 0.9 μM 6-furfurylaminopurine, 2.3 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 1.0 μM 4-amino 3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid, 400 mg l^-1 casein hydrolysate and 3% sucrose. The same medium without agar was used for establishing cell suspensions. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Pulse treatments of penicillin-G and streptomycin minimise internal infections and have post-treatment effects on the morphogenesis of ginseng root culture

This study was initiated to determine whether antibiotic pulse treatments (APT) could effectively eliminate internal infections of ginseng (Panax ginseng) root explants containing vascular tissue, and subsequently have post-treatment effects on changing explant behaviors in callus induction and organogenesis or somatic embryogenesis. For contamination control, a treatment of 40 min with an antibiotic solution consisting of 1000 mg/1 of penicillin-G and 1000 mg/1 of streptomycin immediately following Na-hypochlorite sterilisation significantly decreased contamination rate. Extending treatment time to 2–3 h further lowered the contamination rate to 30–40%. On the other hand, explants treated with antibiotics for 20 min or less were all contaminated. APT also had post-treatment effects; it delayed callus induction for 1–12 months depending on pulse duration and stimulated the generation of more hardand darker looking than fragile- and lighter looking callus. The induced callus proliferated at a depressed rate, increasing subculture intervals from 1 to several weeks, and not until after five subcultures did it fully recover. The regeneration ability of the recovered callus was also affected by APT: the regeneration of adventitious roots was promoted, whereas somatic embryos were not observed.Abbreviations APT Antibiotic pulse treatments - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid     

Plant regeneration of Chorispora bungeana via somatic embryogenesis

Summary A method was developed for in vitro regeneration of plants via somatic embryogenesis in Chorispora bungeana, an alpine plant with freeze-tolerance, using cell suspensions initiated from leaf-derived callus. Primary calli were induced from leaves of C. bungeana grown on Murashige and Skoog (MS) media supplemented with 4.0 mg l⁻¹ gibberellic acid (GA₃), 0.2 mgl⁻¹ α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 0.2 mgl⁻¹ 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Suspension culture was initiated by incubating the callus particulates in liquid MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mgl⁻¹ kinetin (KT) and 0.2 mgl⁻¹ NAA. Individual early cotyledonary-stage somatic embryos isolated from cell suspension developed into whole plants on medium containing high levels of sucrose (60 and 90 gl⁻¹), whereas lower sucrose concentrations (0 and 30 gl⁻¹) were inhibitory to main root development. On the MS medium with 90 gl⁻¹ sucrose, one regenerated plant exhibited hetero-morphologic leaves, while other plants grown on different media showed a transformation from stem to root.     

Shoot regeneration of hybrid seed geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum) and regal geranium (Pelargonium x domesticum) from primary callus cultures

Procedures have been developed that increase the rate of shoot regeneration of hybrid seed geranium from month-old primary callus cultures. Hybrid geranium callus tissue covered with green nodular structures was initiated by placing shoot tip explants on solidified Murashige & Skoog medium (MS) supplemented with 2.0 mgl^-1 zeatin and 1.9 mgl^-1 indoleacetic acid. Hybrids Red Orbit, White Orbit and Scarlet Orbit were shown to produce 5–50 shoot primordia per explant when callus was initiated on this medium. Regal geranium callus was initiated by placing leaf explants on MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mgl^-1 6-benzylaminopurine and 2.0 mgl^-1 naphthaleneacetic acid. Regal geranium cultivars Tiny Tot and Lavender Grand Slam were shown to produce between 2–50 shoot primordia per explant when initiated on the same medium.     

Callus induction and maintenance of Zea mays kernels

Summary Totipotent tissue cultures of maize (Zea mays L.) have previously been initiated from various explant tissues. In this paper, we present an alternative source of callus induction.A callus of maize (G 204 hybrid) was obtained from intact kernels grown on Linsmair and Skoog RM medium supplemented with 20 mg 2,4-dichlorphenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) per litre. The callus growth was greatest from the first node of the seedling shoot. Occasionally, callus growth was observed from the radicle and coleopticle regions. The callus was easily transferred and maintained on a medium with 2 mg/L 2,4-D. This callus formed numerous roots and leaf-like structures when grown on a medium containing 800 mg/L yeast extract, 30 g/L sucrose and 10 g/L agar.     

Development of a plant regeneration system based on friable embryogenic callus in the ornamental Alstroemeria

 Stem segments of seedlings from two Alstroemeria breeding lines, cultured on media supplemented with 4 mg/l 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 0.5–1.0 mg/l 6-benzylaminopurine (BA), initiated soft callus, which became compact after subculture on a medium with only 0.5 mg/l BA. Friable embryogenic calli were initiated from compact callus on a medium supplemented with 10 mg/l picloram. Proembryos developed from friable embryogenic calli via embryos into plants after subculture on medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/l BA. The proembryos formed friable embryogenic calli again after culture on medium supplemented with 10 mg/l picloram. The total time needed to regenerate a complete plantlet from friable callus was approximately 6 months. This system for the production of embryogenic material is considered to have valuable applications for genetic transformation in Alstroemeria. Received: 22 April 1999 / Revision received: 16 July 1999 · Accepted: 20 July 1999     

Establishment of callus and cell suspension cultures from Gypsophila paniculata leaf segments and study of the attachment of host cells by Erwinia herbicola pv. gypsophilae

Callus and cell suspension cultures were initiated from leaf segments of G. paniculata. Fresh and dry weights measurements of callus showed that callus growth was optimal on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg l^–1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 0.2 mg l^–1 benzyladenin (BA). Calli cultured on this medium, showed a two-fold increase in fresh weight by the fourth week of incubation. The initiated hard green callus was repeatedly subcultured on MS medium containing increasing concentrations of 2,4-D in order to increase its friability. The friable callus was then used for establishment of a cell suspension culture. Maximum growth of the suspension culture was on medium supplemented with 1.0 mg l^–1 2,4-D and 0.2 mg l^–1 BA.The suspension culture was used for studying plant host attachment in both electron and light microscopy. Upon infection with E. herbicola, plant cells showed aggregate formation within 24 h of infection. In the presence of the pathogenic Ehg,the number of aggregates formed was 342 aggregates ml^–1, in the presence of the non-pathogenic Ehg154 aggregates ml^–1 and in the control 115 aggregates ml^–1. These results show that the pathogenic strain causes formation of cell aggregates 5.8 times greater than the non-pathogenic one. Based on these results, it can be hypothesized that bacterial cells of the pathogenic strains bind to the plant cells and may form a bridge for attachment of plant cells to one another. Observations by electron microscope show that bacterial cells do attach to plant cells and that this attachment might be via formation of a bridge between the bacteria and the plant cell.     

Efficient callus initiation from leaf of mangrove plant,Bruguiera sexangula in amino acid medium: Effect of NaCl on callus initiation

Experimental conditions for efficient callus initiation from mangrove plants were investigated. As a source explant, leaf ofBruguiera sexangula was used. Mangrove plant is one of the most famous woody plants which can grow at the salty area. The initiated callus can be a suitable material for the investigation of salt tolerant mechanisms of mangrove plants. Leaf pieces cultured in an Amino Acid medium supplemented with 2 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 2 μMN-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N′-phenylurea at 30 C developed calluses. Microscopic observation suggested that the callus was initiated from the tissue in the vascular bundles in the leaf. We also examined the effect of NaCl on callus initiation and short-term culture of the calluses on the leaves. Callus initiation rate decreased with increasing NaCl concentration higher than 100 mM in the culture media. The medium containing 100 mM NaCl produced the largest callus on the leaf, compared with higher or lower concentrations of NaCl.