Rejuvenation of a 100-year-old Sequoiadendron giganteum through in vitro meristem culture. II. Biochemical arguments

The phenomena of phase change and rejuvenation are characterized mainly by morphological and physiological criteria. Thus far, biochemical assessments have been relatively limited. In Sequoiadendron giganteum , techniques of sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and miniaturized two-dimensional gel electrophoresis were applied to a meristem-derived line from a 100-year-old tree to attest the basic origin of the resulting rejuvenation observed from morphological and organogenic standpoints in vitro as well as after acclimation in outdoor conditions. The membrane-associated protein J16, which characterizes the juvenile status was detected in both the juvenile control and the rejuvenated line, while in the original mature form it was totally lacking. In addition, two-dimensional electrophoretic analysis of protein patterns of single meristems belonging to the mature and the rejuvenated form suggested that rejuvenation might involve a drastic modification of the protein content within the meristem itself.     

Nucleotide status and protein synthesis in vivo in the apices of juvenile and mature Sequoiadendron giganteum during budbreak

Adenine and guanine nucleotide contents of isolated apices collected from a juvenile and a mature clone of Sequoiadendron giganteum (Lindl.) Buchholz during budbreak were determined. GDP and GTP contents were significantly higher in the juvenile clone apex than in the mature ones, whereas there was no difference in ATP concentration between the two materials. In vivo, induction of protein synthesis was similar in the two clones after 10 min of [³⁵S]-methionine labeling. The increase of [³⁵S]-methionine-tRNAs and labeled proteins continued up to 30 min for the juvenile clone. They markedly declined for the mature clone after 10 min. Only the diminution of this in vivo protein synthesis was well correlated with a decrease in GTP content.     

Micropropagation of Abelmoschus esculentus L. (Moench.) for disease free plantlets through meristem culture

Protocol was established for mass in vitro propagation of okra using meristem culture. Meristems (0.3–0.5 mm in size) were isolated from shoot tips of three-week old in vitro grown seedlings. Isolated meristems were established rapidly in MS liquid medium containing 1.0 mg/l of BAP. For shoot development from primarily established meristem, semisolid MS medium having the same concentration of BAP was found to be the most effective. Rapid shoot multiplication of mericlone was achieved from node cutting cultured in 1.0 mg/l plus 0.5 mg/l GA₃, and a maximum of nine shoots were found from each node. Effective root development from the developed plantlets was successful in 1.0 mg/l IBA. More than 75% of the micropropagated mericlones plantlets were successfully acclimatised in soil up to maturity and found to be healthy.     

Sequential rooting media and rooting capacity of Sequoiadendron giganteum in vitro. Peroxidase activity as a marker

The rooting capacities of tips of seedling, juvenile and mature shoots of Sequoiadendron giganteum were compared on different rooting media (inductive and expressive media) after passage on an elongating medium. None of the cuttings rooted when continuously kept on medium containing the auxin NAA and vitamin D2. Peroxidase activity of all those cuttings on NAA+D2 first increased during the 7–9 first days and decreased in the days after. Rooting was obtained by transfer of the cuttings after periods longer than 7–9 days from the NAA+D2 inductive medium to a basal medium supplemented or not with rutin (expressive medium). The rooting capacity was emphasized by rutin treatment and was in correlation with the peroxidase peak reached on the NAA+D2 medium. Seedlings, characterised by the highest peroxidase activity, were most performing in rooting.Abbreviations BM basal medium - D2 ergocalciferol - NAA naphtaleneacetic acid     

Introduction and establishment of apricot in vitro through regeneration of shoots from meristem tips

Summary In this study different aspects of the in vitro introduction and establishment of apricot cultivars were investigated through meristem tip culture. The best time to introduce the meristems of ‘Canino’ was when buds were starting to swell. Various plant growth regulators were used at different concentrations on four distinct apricot cultivars to promote the development of the meristems to shoots which could then be micropropagated. Very diverse results were obtained depending on the genotype. In general, meristems did not survive without N⁶-benzyladenine. Concentrations of gibberellic acid from 2 to 4 mg 1⁻¹ (5.8–11.4 μM) promoted explant elongation. This step was critically important to obtain apricot shoots large enough to be transferred to proliferation medium.     

Studies on the action of nerve growth factor: I. Characterization of a simplified in vitro culture system for dorsal root and sympathetic ganglia

Neurite outgrowth from dorsal root (DRG) and sympathetic ganglia has been studied utilizing a simplified in vitro culture system for intact ganglia. Attachment of ganglia to tissue culture plates was achieved after a brief incubation of ganglia on the plates in the presence of 100% fetal calf serum or 5% ovalbumin in F12 medium. Neurite outgrowth from dorsal root and sympathetic ganglia was dependent on the continued presence of nerve growth factor (NGF) and on the NGF concentration. The NGF induced neurite outgrowth from DRG cultured in serum-free medium was delayed approximately 24 hr compared to the outgrowth in serum-containing medium.     

The circumfusion system for multipurpose culture chambers. I. Introduction to the mechanics, techniques, and basic results of a 12-chamber (in vitro) closed circulatory system

A self-contained mechanical system for circulating nutrient fluid through 12 tissue culture chambers is described in detail. This system utilizes nonperforated cellophane membranes in the chambers which separate the circulating nutrient from the tissue culture environments. The nutrient, therefore, is dialyzed through the cellophane of each chamber; some cell products are retained in the microenvironment between the closely apposed cellophane and cover slip, whereas the other cell products move from chamber to chamber in the circulating nutrient. The resultant environmental conditions directed by the circumfusion systems are highly favorable for maintaining the differentiation of chick embryo tissues over protracted periods; a number of micrographs are shown.     

Patterns of morphological and genetic variation in the endemic Malagasy bat Miniopterus gleni (Chiroptera: Miniopteridae), with the description of a new species, M. griffithsi

Over the past decade, major advances have been made concerning the systematics and species diversity of Malagasy bats, largely based on specimens collected during inventories and associated morphological and molecular genetic studies. Herein we describe a new species of endemic bat from southern Madagascar, Miniopterus griffithsi sp. n . , which is the sister taxa to Miniopterus gleni , a taxon described in 1995 (holotype from Sarodrano, just north of the Onilahy River in the southwest). Based on current information, M. griffithsi is found in the sub-arid bioclimatic zone, south of the Onilahy River, and M. gleni occurs in a variety of different bioclimatic zones, north of the Onilahy River to the northern portion of the island and on the near shore island of Ile Sainte Marie. The realization that M. griffithsi was a separate entity was first based on phylogeographic studies of the M. gleni complex. Comparisons using 397 bp of mitochondrial cytochrome b found a divergence of 1.2% within animals occurring across much of Madagascar north of the Onilahy River, 0.07% in those south of the Onilahy River, and 7.4% in populations separated by this river. Subsequently, morphological characters were identified that supported the specific separation of populations occurring south ( M. griffithsi ) and north of the Onilahy River ( M. gleni ), which include tragus shape, pelage coloration, and skull proportions.     

Rapid clonal propagation of three mulberries,Morus cathayana HemsL,M. lhou Koiz. andM. serrata Roxb., through in vitro culture of apical shoot buds and nodal explants from mature trees

High-frequency bud break and multiple shoots were induced in apical shoot buds and nodal explants ofMorus cathayana, M. lhou andM. serrata on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 0.5–1.0 mg/l 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). Addition of gibberellic acid (0.4 mg/l) along with BAP induced faster bud break both in apical shoot buds and nodal explants and also enhanced the frequency of bud break in all three species. Shoot culture initiation was greatly influenced by explant type, explant age and explanting season. The shoots were successfully rooted on half-strength MS medium containing a combination of indole-3-acetic acid, indole-3-butyric acid and indole-3-propionic acid, each at 1.0 mg/l. The plantlets were successfully acclimated and eventually established in soil.Abbreviations BAP 6-Benzylaminopurine - GA ₃ Gibberellic acid - IAA Indole-3-acetic acid - IBA Indole-3-butyric acid - IPA Indole-3-propionic acid - Kn Kinetin - MS Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium - NAA 1-Naphthalene acetic acid