In vitro induction and identification of tetraploid plants of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paulownia tomentosa</Emphasis>

Polyploidization is a major trend in plant evolution that has many advantages over diploid. In particular, the enlargement and lower fertility of polyploids are very attractive traits in forest tree breeding programs. We report here a system for the in vitro induction and identification of tetraploid plants of Paulownia tomentosa induced by colchicine treatment. Embryonic calluses derived from placentas were transferred to liquid Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing different concentrations of colchicine (0.01, 0.05, or 0.1%) and incubated for 24, 48, or 72 h on an orbital shaker at 110 rpm. The best result in terms of the production of tetraploid plantlets was obtained in the 48 h + 0.05% colchicine treatment, with more than 100 tetraploid plantlets being produced. The ploidy level of plantlets was verified by chromosome counts, flow cytometry, and morphology. The chromosome number of tetraploids was 2n = 4x = 80 and that of diploid plantlets was 2n = 2x = 40. The relative fluorescence intensity of tetraploids was twofold higher than that of diploids. The tetraploid and diploid plantlets differed significantly in leaf shape, with those of the former being round and those of the latter pentagonal. The mean length of the stomata was longer in tetraploid plants than diploid plants, and stomatal frequency was reduced with the increased ploidy level. The tetraploids had large floral organs that were easily distinguishable from those of diploid plants.     

Morphological, physiological, cytological and phytochemical studies in diploid and colchicine-induced tetraploid plants of Echinacea purpurea (L.)

Echinacea purpurea (L.) is one of the important medicinal plant species. To obtain the tetraploid plants of Echinacea purpurea with improved medicinal qualities, the root tips of two true leaves seedlings were imbibed in 0.25 % (w/v) colchicine solution for 24, 48, 72, 96 and 168 h. The ploidy level of plants was determined by chromosome counting of root tip cells, and confirmed by flow cytometric analysis. Tetraploid induction occurred in seedlings treated for 24, 48 and 72 h at colchicine solution. The morphological, physiological, cytological, and phytochemical characteristics of diploid and colchicine-induced tetraploid plants were compared. Results indicated that tetraploid plants had considerable larger stomata, pollen grain, seed and flower. Moreover, chloroplast number in guard cells, amount of chlorophyll (a, b, and a + b), carotenoids as well as width and thickness of leaves were increased in tetraploids. However, stomata frequency, leaf index, plant height, and quantum efficiency of photosystem II in tetraploid were lower than diploid plants. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis showed that leaves of the tetraploid plants had more cichoric acid (45 %) and chlorogenic acid (71 %) than diploid plants. It was concluded that morphological and physiological characteristics can be used as useful parameters for preliminary screening of putative tetraploids in this species.     

In vitro tetraploid induction from leaf explants of Populus pseudo-simonii Kitag.

Tetraploid plants were produced from leaf explants of diploid Populus pseudo-simonii by treating the leaves with colchicine. Leaf explants were cultured on MS basal medium containing 1.78 μM BA and 1.08 μM NAA for 0, 6 and 12 days, and then transferred to the same MS liquid medium with colchicine at concentrations of 25, 50 and 75 μM for 1, 2 and 3 days. The highest efficiency of tetraploid induction was 14.6% by treating leaf explants that were pre-cultured for 6 days and then cultured in liquid MS with 50 μM colchicine for 3 days. Flow cytometric analysis was used to screen the tetraploids out from the regenerated plants and chromosome number counting was employed to confirm the polyploidy level. Size and frequency of leaf stomata between diploid and tetraploid plants were demonstrated to have significant differences.     

In vitro induction of tetraploids in an interspecific hybrid of Calanthe (Calanthe discolor × Calanthe sieboldii) through colchicine and oryzalin treatments

Tetraploids were successfully produced from diploid seeds obtained through interspecific crossing between Calanthe discolor and Calanthe sieboldii by treating with colchicine or oryzalin. Colchicine was tested at concentrations of 0.05 and 0.1 % for 0, 3, or 7 days and oryzalin was tested at a concentration of 0.003 % for 1, 2, 4, and 7 days, and the ploidy of the seedlings was determined by flow cytometry. Tetraploids (4×) were obtained from the interspecific hybrid seeds treated with all colchicine and oryzalin concentrations. The most efficient condition for inducing tetraploids seemed to be treated with 0.003 % oryzalin for 1 or 2 days. Cytological and morphological evidence confirmed the results of flow cytometric analysis. The stomatal density and sizes of the tetraploid plants were significantly higher and larger than those of the diploid plants. Differences in leaf shape were found between the tetraploid and diploid plants under the same growing conditions: the leaves of the diploids were elongated and those of the tetraploids were round.     

Induction of tetraploidy in Buddleia globosa

The aim was to produce a tetraploid form of Buddleia globosa to facilitate introgression of yellow flower colour into B. davidii, which is naturally tetraploid. Protocols were established for the micropropagation of B. globosa and tetraploid plants were obtained by application in vitro of colchicine to pre-cultured excised nodal sections. Three concentrations of colchicine were applied (0.01%, 0.05% and 0.1% w/v) for 1, 2 or 3 days. At 0.01% tetraploids were produced only after 2 days of application. All other treatments produced at least one tetraploid. The colchicine technique was extremely effective: of 29 lines tested, 19 were tetraploid and 5 were mixoploid. The vegetative characteristics of these tetraploids are described and the flowering characteristics of the three that flowered. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

In vitro induction of tetraploid in pomegranate (Punica granatum)

Tetraploid plants were obtained in pomegranate (Punica granatum L. var. `Nana') by colchicine treatment of shoots propagated in vitro. Shoots cultured on MS medium supplemented with 10 mg l^–1 colchicine, 1.0 mg l^–1 BA and 0.1 mg l^–1 NAA for 30 days produced tetraploids at a high frequency of 20%. No tetraploids were detected by treating the shoots in 5000 mg l^–1 colchicine for 114 h. Shoots treated by 5000 mg l^–1 colchicine for 96 h produced three morphological mutants with narrow leaves, which were later confirmed as mixoploids that separated into diploids and tetraploids after further subculture. In vitro tetraploid plants had shorter roots, wider and shorter leaves than the diploid ones. Tetraploid pomegranate plants grew and flowered normally in pots, but possessed flowers with increased diameter and decreased length compared to diploids. The number of pollen grains per anther was higher in tetraploids, but the viability of pollen decreased significantly.     

同源四倍体紫菜薹的诱导鉴定及其营养品质比较

该研究以二倍体紫菜薹为材料,采用浓度为0.1%、0.2%和0.3%的秋水仙素溶液,在二倍体紫菜薹生长至子叶期时对植株茎尖生长点进行4次点滴处理,鉴定筛选同源四倍体紫菜薹并进行二倍体和四倍体紫菜薹的营养品质比较。结果表明:(1)使用浓度为0.2%秋水仙素溶液点滴4次对紫菜薹的处理效果最好,四倍体紫菜薹的诱导率为6.62%。(2)在形态学上,四倍体植株的叶片、花簇、花器官、角果和种子与二倍体相比都在巨大性上呈现出明显差异;在解剖学上,四倍体植株在气孔密度减小的同时气孔变大,其花粉表现出矩形、梯形以及其他一些不规则的形状;在细胞学上,四倍体和二倍体植株的染色体数目分别为40条和20条;流式细胞仪鉴定结果显示,四倍体植株的DNA分子荧光强度(2 092 385.03)约为二倍体植株(956 725.15)的2倍。(3)植株营养品质方面,四倍体紫菜薹的游离氨基酸、叶绿素总浓度分别比二倍体植株显著增加了228.58%、110.02%,但四倍体紫菜薹的硝态氮、可溶性蛋白、维生素C、可溶性糖、纤维素总含量分别比二倍体植株显著减少了48.99%、43.20%、45.81%、44.50%、59.97%。(4)与二倍体植株相比,四倍体紫菜薹的单株质量、十叶厚、叶宽、叶柄宽都有不同程度的增加,叶片开展度有一定程度的降低。研究发现,秋水仙素诱导产生四倍体紫菜薹的最适浓度为0.2%;四倍体紫菜薹表现出明显的高产性,但多数营养品质极显著低于二倍体紫菜薹。     

Polyploidy and invasion success: trait trade-offs in native and introduced cytotypes of two Asteraceae species

Invasion success is favoured by the introduction of pre-adapted genotypes. In addition, novel pressures in the introduced range may lead to phenotypic changes related to fitness or competitive ability of introduced plants. Polyploidy appears to be over-represented in invasive plants, but differences between cytotypes in growth strategies including trade-offs among plant traits have received little attention so far in the context of biological invasions. We grew Centaurea stoebe L. and Senecio inaequidens D.C. in a greenhouse experiment to test for differences in fitness (shoot biomass, reproductive output) and competitive ability (vegetative size, specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, root–shoot ratio) between diploid and polyploid cytotypes as well as between native and introduced plants. For both species, diploid and tetraploid genotypes occur in the native range, whereas only tetraploids are present in the introduced range. In the native range of both species, diploid and tetraploid genotypes had different growth strategies. Tetraploid genotypes of C. stoebe and S. inaequidens had, respectively, higher specific leaf area and stem height than diploid ones. Thus, for both species, native tetraploids appeared more competitive than native diploids, which could explain, at least partially, the invasion success of the pre-adapted tetraploid genotypes. The comparison of native and introduced tetraploid genotypes revealed differences in traits linked to competitive ability, which could be linked to novel selection in the new environment. In S. inaequidens, we found evidence for a competition-colonisation trade-off, whereas persistence of C. stoebe in the new range seemed to be linked to a competition-defence trade-off.     

铁皮石斛四倍体离体诱导和鉴定及生理特性研究

以铁皮石斛原球茎为材料,经不同质量浓度的秋水仙素(C₂₂H₂₅O₆)和0.02 g·mL^-1二甲基亚砜(DMSO)混合水溶液处理后进行组织培养,通过对变异株进行形态学、细胞学及流式细胞仪鉴定,以期获得稳定的四倍体植株并分析其生理特性。结果表明:用2.0 g·L^-1秋水仙素和0.02 g·mL^-1 DMSO混合水溶液处理铁皮石斛原球茎36 h后,植株诱导率达20%;诱导四倍体植株在形态上明显矮化、茎秆粗壮、叶片变小增厚、气孔直径增大;细胞遗传学观察发现,四倍体植株染色体2n=4x=76,二倍体植株染色体2n=2x=38;流式细胞仪分析显示,DNA相对含量四倍体为400,二倍体仅为200;四倍体植株叶片中叶绿素含量、可溶性蛋白、可溶性糖含量均高于二倍体,分别为5.03、3.59、2.98 mg·g^-1;四倍体叶片中主要抗氧化酶POD和SOD活性均显著高于二倍体,分别为9.08、180.4 U·mg^-1,且四倍体植株明显降低了MDA含量累积。研究认为,2.0 g·L^-1秋水仙素和0.02 g·mL^-1 DMSO混合水溶液处理原球茎36 h可提高诱导成功率、降低嵌合体比例,此组合为诱导四倍体较佳诱导条件。     

Why only tetraploid Solidago gigantea (Asteraceae) became invasive: a common garden comparison of ploidy levels

Many studies have compared the growth of plants from native and invasive populations, but few have considered the role of ploidy. In its native range in North America, Solidago gigantea Aiton (Asteraceae) occurs as a diploid, tetraploid and hexaploid, with considerable habitat differentiation and geographic separation amongst these ploidy levels. In the introduced range in Europe, however, only tetraploid populations are known. We investigated the growth performance and life history characteristics of plants from 12 European and 24 North American (12 diploid, 12 tetraploid) populations in a common garden experiment involving two nutrient and two calcium treatments. Twelve plants per population were grown in pots for two seasons. We measured 24 traits related to leaf nutrients, plant size, biomass production and phenology as well as sexual and vegetative reproduction. Native diploid plants had a higher specific leaf area and higher leaf nutrient concentrations than native tetraploids, but tetraploids produced many more shoots and rhizomes. Diploids grown with additional calcium produced less biomass, whereas tetraploids were not affected. European plants were less likely to flower and produced smaller capitulescences than North American tetraploids, but biomass production and shoot and rhizome number did not differ. We conclude that a knowledge of ploidy level is essential in comparative studies of invasive and native populations. While clonal growth is important for the invasion success of tetraploid S. gigantea, its potential was not acquired by adaptation after introduction but by evolutionary processes in the native range.     

In vitro induction of tetraploids in Arachis paraguariensis

In this study, an efficient procedure was established for successful induction of tetraploid Arachis paraguariensis by treating diploid explants with colchicine. Quartered-seed, callus and shoot-tips were treated with colchicine at concentrations of 0.05, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.5?% (w/v) for 4, 8, 16, 20 and 24?h before they were transferred unto modified Murashige and Skoog medium for either callus induction or shoot regeneration. Results showed that quartered-seed displayed the highest frequency of in vitro plantlet regeneration and tetraploid induction, as well as the lowest mortality rate. Flow cytometric analysis also confirmed that the induced tetraploids from quartered-seed were true-to-type. The 0.5?% colchicine treatment for 4 to 8?h gave the best results with 39 and 43?% of the explants yielding tetraploid plants, respectively. Two?months following transfer to ex vitro environment, morphological and growth characteristics of the induced tetraploids were measured. Overall, increasing the ploidy level from 2× to 4× resulted in fewer stomata but more trichomes per unit leaf area. Tetraploid plants obtained in this study should expand the genetic base of Arachis, and can also be used in overcoming the existing hybridization barriers that may be due to ploidy differences within the genus Arachis.     

Manipulation of ploidy for kiwifruit breeding: in vitro chromosome doubling in diploid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Actinidia chinensis</Emphasis> Planch.

Tetraploid plants were induced by colchicine treatment of in vitro leaf petiole segment cultures of five diploid Actinidia chinensis Planch. genotypes, including the commercially important, yellow-fleshed cultivar ‘Hort16A’, three female selections with red-fleshed fruit and one male pollinizer. Petiole segments were incubated on a shoot regeneration medium for a period of 4 weeks, and subsequently microshoots were treated with 0.05 or 0.1% colchicine. About one-third of the regenerated shoots were tetraploid following 0.05% colchicine treatment, more than with 0.1% colchicine treatment. Similar rates of tetraploid induction were achieved with all the genotypes tested. The efficiency of induction of polyploidy depended on the interaction between the types of in vitro culture chosen and the concentration of colchicine used. There are no previous reports of colchicine being used so successfully to induce polyploidy in Actinidia.     

In vitro chromosome doubling of nineZantedeschia cultivars

Tetraploid plants have been produced from nineZantedeschia cultivars usingin vitro colchicine treatment. Rapidly-multiplying shoot cultures were treated on a medium containing 0.05% colchicine for 1, 2 or 4 days to induce chromosome doubling. Following the treatment, most shoots were killed but the surviving shoots were multiplied for several subcultures. These shoots were then rootedin vitro and transferred to a greenhouse. Plants were screened 2 months later by measuring stomatal length, and 110 out of 565 plants were selected as putative tetraploids with a stomatal length significantly greater than in diploid control plants. Chromosome counts were carried out on root tips from 44 plants and confirmed that 38 were tetraploids, 2 were chimeras (predominantly tetraploid with a few octoploid cells), and 4 were diploids. Stomatal length has been rechecked in mature tetraploid plants of the cultivar Black Magic, demonstrating that stomatal length is a good indicator of ploidy level inZantedeschia. This study has shown that multiplying colchicine-treated shootsin vitro for several subcultures prior to transfer to soil produced very few chimeras. The stomatal length measurements are non-destructive and allow the rapid screening of a population for tetraploids.     

Influence of ploidy level on morphology,growth and drought susceptibility in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spathiphyllum wallisii</Emphasis>

In this study, we analysed morphological, anatomical and physiological effects of polyploidisation in Spathiphyllum wallisii in order to evaluate possible interesting advantages of polyploids for ornamental breeding. Stomatal density was negatively correlated with increased ploidy level. Stomatal size increased in polyploids. Tetraploid Spathiphyllum plants had more ovate and thicker leaves. The inflorescence of tetraploids had a more ovate and thicker spathum, a more cylindrical spadix and a thicker but shorter flower stalk. Biomass production of the tetraploids was reduced, as expressed by lower total dry weights, and tetraploids produced fewer shoots and leaves compared with their diploid progenitors. Furthermore, tetraploid Spathiphyllum plants were more resistant to drought stress compared with diploid plants. After 15 days of drought stress, diploids showed symptoms of wilting, while the tetraploids showed almost no symptoms. Further, measurements of stomatal resistance, leaf water potential, relative water content and proline content indicated that the tetraploid genotypes were more resistant to drought stress compared with the diploids.     

Regeneration of plants from protoplasts of rapid cycling Brassica oleracea L.

Rapid cycling Brassica species have great potential in plant genetic research because of their short life cycles and their minimal space requirements. Rapid cycling B. oleracea can be grown with up to six generations per year. Protoplast culture of this genotype can be applied for gene transfer by direct DNA uptake and by protoplast fusion. We here report on fast regeneration of flowering plants from protoplasts of rapid cycling B. oleracea. Regeneration frequencies of 27–65% were achieved with multiple shoots developing from individual calli. The regenerated plants were grown to maturity, and flowering and other morphological characteristics were monitored. The regenerants flowered within a similar time frame as plants grown from seeds. The ploidy level of regenerated and seed-grown plants was measured by flow cytometry. Many (20–45%) of the regenerants were tetraploid. Although only few seeds could be obtained from the tetraploids, large numbers of seeds with good germination were recovered from the diploid regenerants.Abbreviations MS-3,0 Murashige and Skoog medium containing 3% sucrose and no growth regulators - MES 1-morpholino-ethane sulfonate     

Pollinator-mediated assortative mating in mixed ploidy populations of Chamerion angustifolium (Onagraceae)

Establishment of polyploid individuals within diploid populations is theoretically unlikely unless polyploids are reproductively isolated, pre-zygotically, through assortative pollination. Here, we quantify the contribution of pollinator diversity and foraging behaviour to assortative pollen deposition in three mixed-ploidy populations of Chamerion angustifolium (Onagraceae). Diploids and tetraploids were not differentiated with respect to composition of insect visitors. However, foraging patterns of the three most common insect visitors (all bees) reinforced assortative pollination. Bees visited tetraploids disproportionately often and exhibited higher constancy on tetraploids in all three populations. In total, 73% of all bee flights were between flowers of the same ploidy (2x–2x, 4x–4x); 58% of all flights to diploids and 83% to tetraploids originated from diploid and tetraploid plants, respectively. Patterns of pollen deposition on stigmas mirrored pollinator foraging behaviour; 73% of all pollen on stigmas (70 and 75% of pollen on diploid and tetraploid stigmas, respectively) came from within-ploidy pollinations. These results indicate that pollinators contribute to high rates of pre-zygotic reproductive isolation. If patterns of fertilization track pollen deposition, pollinator–plant interactions may help explain the persistence and spread of tetraploids in mixed-ploidy populations.     

Phenotypic differentiation of peripheral populations of Santolina rosmarinifolia (Asteraceae)

Phenotypic differentiation of two tetraploid (2n = 4x = 36, 36+1B, 36+2B) populations of Santolina rosmarinifolia geographically isolated from diploid populations was investigated. The karyotype was relatively homogeneous, meiosis was regular and pollen was fertile in both cytotypes. An autopolyploid or allopolyploid origin for tetraploid cytotypes is discussed. Overall, 80.82% of all variance in achene weight, time t₀, t₅₀ and t₉₀ of germination and accumulated germination rate was due to achene age at each ploidy level. Partition of the total phenotypic variance showed that there was extensive variation between ploidy levels. The mean of morphological characters was generally higher in polyploids. For diploid cytotypes, flower number, achene production and fruiting percentage were significantly higher than for tetraploid cytotypes. Cluster analysis indicated that the patterns of seedling morphology and development were similar in three diploid individuals and several tetraploids; the same analysis showed high similarity between diploid individuals of the natural populations, whereas tetraploid individuals showed high dissimilarity among themselves and with diploid individuals. Multiple correspondence analysis and logistic regression analysis indicated that qualitative characters contribute strongly to cytotype differentiation. The results support recognition of the tetraploid cytotypes at the subspecies level. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158 , 650–668.     

In vitro induction of tetraploid plants from diploid Zizyphus jujuba Mill. cv. Zhanhua

Tetraploid plants of Zizyphus jujuba Mill. cv. Zhanhua were obtained with in vitro colchicine treatment. Shoot tips from in vitro-grown plants were treated with five different concentrations of colchicine (0.01, 0.03, 0.05, 0.1, 0.3%) in liquid MS medium (Murashige and Skoog 1962), and shaken (100 rpm) at 25 °C in darkness for 24, 48, 72 or 96 h, respectively. Tetraploids were obtained at a frequency of over 3% by using 0.05% colchicine (48 h, 72 h) and 0.1% colchicine (24 h, 48 h) treatment as determined by flow cytometry. Cytological and morphological evidence confirmed the results of flow cytometric analysis. The chromosome number of diploid plants was 24 and that of tetraploid plants was 48. The stomata sizes of tetraploid plants were significantly larger than those of diploid plants, while the frequency of stomata were reduced significantly. Similarly, the chloroplast number of guard cells of tetraploid plants increased significantly. The selected tetraploid plants were grafted onto mature trees of Z. jujuba Mill. cv. Zhanhua in the field, resulted in thicker stems, rounder and succulent leaves, larger flowers and a delay in florescence time (3–4 days later) than diploid plants.     

Multinucleation in the conidia of polyploids derived fromTrichoderma reesei QM 9414 by colchicine treatment

Conidia ofTrichoderma reesei QM 9414 were treated with colchicine in order to obtain polyploids (diploids; tetraploids). Cellulase production by diploids (mononucleate conidia) was almost twice as great as that of the original strain, but that of tetraploids (binucleate conidia) was not increased. When these latter conidia were re-treated with 2.0% (w/v) colchicine, multiple nuclei were produced in each conidium, and their diameter was almost the same as that of the original nucleus. Cellulase production of the diploid was almost the same in either mononucleate or multinucleate nature. However, cellulase production by the tetraploid which produced multinucleate conidia was greater than that of the binucleate tetraploid and that of the diploid. The multinucleation technique can contribute to enhancing cellulase production.     

Tetraploid induction of Mitracarpus hirtus L. by colchicine and its characterization including antibacterial activity

Tetraploid plants were successfully induced for the first time in Mitracarpus hirtus L., by overnight immersion of shoot meristems in 0.1 % colchicine solution, followed by in vitro culture leading to plant regeneration. Examination of ploidy level by flow cytometric analysis and counting chromosome number at metaphase confirmed that original diploid plant (WT1) contained chromosome number as 2n = 2x = 28, whereas 2n = 4x = 56 was observed in the tetraploids induced with colchicine treatment (CC102 and CC110). Thicker root formation, larger stomata (1.3–2 times), and lower density of stomata (1.7–4 times) were observed in these tetraploid plants. After transplantation to the pot, tetraploid plant (CC110) showed higher fresh weights of aerial part and leaves (1.5 and 1.4 times respectively) than diploid. However, the methanolic extracts from leaves of tetraploid line CC102 showed inhibition against human pathogenic bacterium, S. aureus while WT1 and CC110 showed no activity. GC–MS revealed 40 unique compounds present in CC102, but absent in WT1 and CC110. Through hierarchical clustering analysis the 40 unique compounds in CC102 formed a cluster group found to correlate with anti-S. aurens activity. These results suggested that tetraploid M. hirtus CC102 created in this study provides a novel source of compounds useful in fighting infectious disease.