High frequency somatic embryogenesis and plantlet regeneration from hypocotyl protoplast cultures of Brassica napus

A simple protocol has been developed for high frequency protoplast regeneration via somatic embryogenesis in B. napus. Protoplasts isolated from hypocotyl tissue of 8–12 day old seedlings of Brassica napus ISN706 (AACC) when cultured in KM(A) medium resulted in divisions with a, frequency ranging from 30–35%. Regeneration of plantlets was possible by both organogenesis and embryogenesis. Nearly 80% of the call transferred on to MS medium supplemented with 5.0 mg l^-1 2iP, 0.1 mg l^-1 NAA, 0.001 mg l^-1 GA₃, 0.5 g l^-1 PVP and 0.5 g l^-1 MES displayed somatic embryogenesis. The somatic embryos developed into normal plantlets, and also displayed secondary, repetitive embryogenesis.     

Study of factors affecting the culture of Brassica napus L. and B. juncea Coss. mesophyll protoplasts

Various factors affecting the culture of Brassica napus and B. juncea mesophyll protoplasts were examined in order to develop suitable culture media for these species. The basic components (salts and vitamins) of culture media K3 and Kao best supported cell division and colony development in protoplast culture of both species. The addition of casamino acids to Kao's medium resulted in colony browning in B. napus genotypes. B. napus protoplasts grew well with glucose as the osmotic stabilizer, whereas B. juncea protoplasts responded better to sucrose. High NAA and low 2,4-D combinations were effective in stimulating colony growth. Colony development was rapid for a range of genotypes cultured with these recommendations in these media and plant regeneration was obtained from protoplast-derived calli in both species.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid - BAP 6-Benzylaminopurine - MES 2(N-Morpholino)ethane sulfonic acid Contribution No. 931.     

Plant regeneration from stem cortex protoplasts of Brassica napus

Cell layer strips composed of the epidermis and 7–9 layers of subepidermal cells were isolated from the 3–4 terminal internodes of Brassica napus cv Westar plants at the early flowering stage. The strips were precultured for one day in modified liquid MS [11] medium and subsequently incubated for 17–18 h in a 0.4 M mannitol solution containing 1% Macerozyme and 1% Cellulase Onozuka R-10. Protoplast yield was 2–2.8×10⁶ per 1.0g of tissue. Protoplasts were cultured at 1×10⁵/ml in three different media: S₁ [13], B [12] and L[8]. The first cell divisions occurred after 2–8 days of culture at frequencies of 20–54%. The highest growth rate of colonies was obtained in L medium containing 0.4 M sucrose and 2% Ficoll. After 4 weeks, green calli, 1–2 mm in diameter were transferred onto B₅ [2] medium with 3 mgl^-1 zeatin, 1% sucrose, 0.1 M mannitol and 0.5% agarose for shoot regeneration. Up to 20% of the calli regenerated shoots which subsequently were rooted and established in soil in the greenhouse.     

Foraging behaviour of honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) on transgenic oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.var. oleifera)

The impact of genetically modified oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) on the foraging behaviour of honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) was evaluated on two different lines transformed to express constitutively heterologous chitinase in somatic tissue for enhanced disease resistance. Experiments were conducted in confinement in an indoor flight room with controlled conditions and in an outdoor flight cage with conditions more representative of the open environment. Foraging behaviour was analysed by observations of general bee behaviour (total number of visits) and of individual bee behaviour (using a video camera coupled with a special software program to process the data). The plants were analysed in terms of nectar quantity and quality (nectar volume and sugar content). The results showed no effects on bee foraging behaviour due to the modification of the genome of these plants by the introduction of a chitinase gene even though some differences between lines were found in the nectar. The methods applied in this original approach for the evaluation of the impact of genetically modified oilseed rape were shown to be sufficiently sensitive to detect changes in bee behaviour resulting from differences between plants.     

A comparative assessment of purification techniques for mesophyll protoplasts of Brassica napus L.

The effects of three different general purification protocols have been assessed quantitatively using mesophyll protoplasts of Brassica napus. Within the initial sample two distinct sub-populations were determined. The methods used influenced the ratio of the vacuolated to chloroplastic type protoplast sub-populations. Overall recovery rates of the initial sample varied according to the method used from 38% to 27%, but the relative recovery of the sub-populations varied considerably with a purified ratio of between 1.0:0.78 to 1.0:7.0. Size distribution profiles of the initial and purified populations are also presented.     

结球甘蓝下胚轴原生质体培养再生植株体系的优化研究

以结球甘蓝‘新夏50’的无菌苗下胚轴为材料,对影响原生质体分离、纯化与培养的主要因素进行研究,建立适合结球甘蓝原生质体游离、纯化、收集、培养以至再生出完整植株的实用技术体系,为其非对称细胞融合及品种改良与创新等研究奠定基础。结果表明:2.5%纤维素酶R-10+0.05%果胶酶Y-23+9CPW+5mmol/L MES的混合酶液,从4d苗龄的下胚轴上分离出高产率的原生质体。在改良B5+0.5mg/L 2,4-D+0.2mg/L 6-BA+0.2mg/L NAA的液体培养基上,原生质体分裂旺盛。形成愈伤组织后经芽诱导和生根培养,获得了再生植株。倍性检测结果表明,不同原生质体所获得的24株再生植株中,19株为正常二倍体,4株为嵌合体,1株为四倍体。     

Plant regeneration fromBrassicanigra (L.) Koch stem protoplasts

Summary Protoplasts ofBrassica nigra (L.) Koch were isolated from stem peels of bolting racemes and cultured in 1.5 ml of VN1 liquid medium. The protoplasts in the liquid medium were plated on top of half strength MS medium supplemented with 400 mg/liter glutamine, 15 mg/liter glutathione, 50 mg/literl-serine, 0.25 mg/liter 6-benzylaminopurine, 0.5 mg/liter 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 1.5% sucrose, and 5% mannitol, pH, 5.7, solidified with 0.3% agarose. Ten percent of calli obtained from the protoplasts developed into plantlets within 4 wk after transfer onto 2N regeneration medium which contains MS salts plus 200 mg/liter casein hydrolysate, 0.625 mg/liter 6-benzylaminopurine, 0.625 mg/liter kinetin, 0.625 mg/liter 6-(γ,γ-dimethylallylamino)-purine, 0.625 mg/liter zeatin, 0.5 mg/liter 1-naphthaleneacetic acid, 1.5% sucrose, and 0.4% agarose. THis is the first report of plant regeneration fromB. nigra protoplasts.     

Discrimination among cultivars of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) using DNA polymorphisms amplified from arbitrary primers

RAPDs (Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs) were used to discriminate among 23 cultivars of oilseed rape (Brassica napus) selected from several breeding programs. A set of 100 random sequence 10-mer primers were tested, of which 70 produced bands and 22 showed evidence of polymorphism. A selection of six primers produced 23 polymorphic bands of between 300 to 2200 base pairs in size, sufficient to distinguish between the cultivars. An analysis of seed of five cultivars obtained from four different sites showed stability of banding pattern over source of seed. The analysis was repeated using four different thermocyclers, each of which produced the same band pattern. UPGMA cluster analysis indicates that the relationships among some of the cultivars is closer for those from the same breeding program than for those from different programs. The results of this study show that RAPDs can be used as a method of identification for oilseed rape cultivars.Contribution number 941     

Rapid and high frequency shoot regeneration from hypocotyl protoplasts of Brassica nigra

Protoplasts, isolated from etiolated hypocotyls of seven day old seedlings of Brassica nigra, were cultured in Kao's liquid medium containing 7.2% glucose, 2,4-d (1 mg 1^-1), NAA (0.1 mg 1^-1) and zeatin riboside (0.5 mg 1^-1). After initial incubation for 3 days in dark at 25±1°C, cultures were transferred to a photoperiod cycle of 16/8 h and diluted on seventh and tenth day with MS medium containing 3.4% sucrose, 2,4-d (0.1 mg 1^-1) and BAP (1 mg 1^-1). About 62% of the cells divided at least once and 46% of them reached 8–16 cell stage in one week. The dividing cell clusters could be plated on agarose medium on the fifteenth day to obtain proliferating minicalli with a plating efficiency of 1.8%. 56.8% of minicalli, regenerated shoots on a regeneration medium containing 2 IP and IAA at 1 and 0.2 mg 1^-1 respectively. The in vitro produced shoots were rooted in MS medium containing 1 mg 1^-1 IBA and established in soil without difficulty. The time taken for protoplasts to develop into plants varied from 9 to 10 weeks.Abbreviations 2,4-d 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - 2 IP 2-isopentenyladenine - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - IBA indole-3-butyric acid - NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid - Kn kinetin     

Plant regeneration from cotyledonary protoplasts of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var.botrytis L.)

Summary Protoplasts isolated enzymatically from precultured cotyledonary leaves ofB. oleracea var.botrytis and cultured in KM8p medium (Kao andMichayluk 1975) underwent sustained divisions in about 0.1% population to eventually produce callus, whereas mesophyll protoplasts from either field grown orin vitro raised plants failed to divide. The callus readily differentiated on Murashige-Skoog medium as modified for shoot culture (Binding 1974) to give rise to shoot and roots.     

Changes in the composition of fatty acids and sterols of membrane lipids during induction and differentiation of Brassica napus (var. oleifera L.) callus

Changes in the membrane lipid and sterols content and composition were studied during induction and differentiation in callus cultures of Brassica napus var. oleifera. Callus induction was associated with an increase of DGDG content, significant changes in fatty acids composition of all lipid fractions and increased degree of lipid unsaturation. The membrane lipid composition of tissue at different degrees of differentiation was found to vary significantly, particularly two weeks after transfer of callus to regeneration medium. The main differences concerned the content and composition of galactolipids. Curiously in many cases, these differences declined during subsequent culture, in spite of the morphogenesis process which was in progress. Another result of differentiation was the change in free sterol composition: in shoot regenerating calli the content of stigmasterol had rose whereas the accumulation of campesterol decreased. Even though observed changes in membrane properties may not play a role in morphogenesis they are nevertheless useful as developmental markers and can be invaluable in understanding biochemical basis of morphogenesis.     

Heavy metal tolerant transgenic Brassica napus L. and Nicotiana tabacum L. plants

Summary A chimeric gene containing a cloned human metallothionein-II (MT-II) processed gene was introduced into Brassica napus and Nicotiana tabacum cells on a disarmed Ti-plasmid of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Transformants expressed MT protein as a Mendelian trait and in a constitutive manner. Seeds from self-fertilized transgenic plants were germinated on media containing toxic levels of cadmium and scored for tolerance/ susceptibility to this heavy metal. The growth of root and shoot of transformed seedlings was unaffected by up to 100 M CdCl₂, whereas control seedlings showed severe inhibition of root and shoot growth and chlorosis of leaves. The results of these experiments indicate that agriculturally important plants such as B. napus can be genetically engineered for heavy metal tolerance/sequestration and eventually for partitioning of heavy metals in non-consumed plant tissues.     

结球甘蓝和青花菜小孢子胚植株再生

结球甘蓝（Brassica oleracea var.capitata）和青花菜（Brassica oleracea var.italica）小孢子胚再生植株频率低是目前影响游离小孢子培养技术有效应用的关键问题之一,研究其小孢子胚植株再生频率的影响因素,提高胚再生植株频率,对促进游离小孢子培养技术在甘蓝类蔬菜育种中更好地应用具有重要意义。该文以结球甘蓝中甘11和青花菜TI-111等基因型为试材,对影响游离小孢子胚再生成植株的固体培养基类型、琼脂浓度、胚的类型及胚在液体培养基中的滞留时间等因素进行了研究。结果表明：游离小孢子培养25天的子叶胚在琼脂浓度为1%–1.25%的B5培养基上植株再生频率最高。进一步通过8个不同基因型对上述实验结果进行了验证,结果显示,游离小孢子培养25天的子叶胚在1%琼脂浓度的B5培养基上植株再生频率达77.8%–97.2%。     

Synthesis of high erucic acid rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) somatic hybrids with improved agronomic characters

Novel Brassica napus somatic hybrids have been created through protoplast fusion of B. oleracea var. botrytis and B. rapa var. oleifera genotypes selected for high erucic acid (22:1) content in the seed oil. Fifty amphidiploids (aacc) and one putative hexaploid (aacccc) hybrid were recovered in one fusion experiment. Conversely, only one amphidiploid and numerous regenerates with higher DNA contents were produced in a similar fusion using a different B. rapa partner. Hybridity was confirmed by morphology, isozyme expression, flow cytometry, and DNA hybridization. Analysis of organellar DNA revealed a distinct bias toward the inheritance of chloroplasts from the B. rapa (aa) genome. All amphidiploids set self-pollinated seed. A erucic acid content as high as 57.4% was found in the seed oil of one regenerated plant. Fatty acid composition was stable in the R₁ generation and was coupled with increased female fertility. Other novel agronomic characters in the hybrids recovered include large seed size, lodging resistance, and non-shattering seed pods.     

Genetic manipulation in cultivars of oilseed rape (Brassica napus) using Agrobacterium

Summary The response of oilseed rape cultivars to infection with Agrobacterium tumefaciens and A. rhizogenes and the possibility of regenerating genetically transformed oilseed rape plants were examined. The frequency at which Agrobacterium induced galls or hairy-roots on in vitro cultured plants ranged from 10% to 70%, depending on the cultivar. From galls induced by the tumorigenic strain T37, known to be strongly shoot inducing on tobacco, roots developed frequently. Occasionally, shoots formed and some of these produced tumour cell specific nopaline. Attempts to grow the transformed shoots into plants have so far been unsuccessful. Whole plants transformed with Ri-T-DNA, however, were regenerated. These had crinkled leaves and abundant, frequently branching roots that showed reduced geotropism, similar to previously isolated Ri T-DNA transformed tobacco and potato plants. The transformed oilseed rape plants flowered, but failed to form seeds.     

Effects of a Ficoll-agarose system on early division and development of mesophyll protoplasts of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.)

A method is described for regenerating callus from mesophyll protoplasts of a winter variety of Brassica napus. The method combines the use of Ficoll in an initial liquid medium, enhancing early protoplast division and cell colony formation, with a transfer to an agarose system after 10 days culture to give rapid microcalli formation. Further transfers resulted in callus regeneration and the initiation of organogenesis.     

Plant Regeneration from Protoplasts of Savoy Cabbage(Brassica oleracea L. var. subauda)

Protoplasts of savoy cabbage (Brassica olleracea L. var. subauda), "SA61" (SV), were isolated from leaves and hypocotyls of seedlings grown in vitro, in enzyme mixture containing 2% cellulase (Onozuka R-10) and 0.8% macerozyme RI0. Good results of protoplast collection were obtained by using 18% and 17% sucrose solution floating leaf protoplasts and hypocotyl protoplasts respectively, and centrifugalizing with the rate of 500 r/min. All the collected protoplasts were cultured in 5 different liquid media from which the best results were observed on DPD1 medium for leaf protoplasts and on MS1 medium for hypocotyl protoplasts, with the highest cell division rate and planting efficiency. About 2 weeks of cultures, many cell clusters and a few embryo-like structures were visualized. The cell clusters developed into visible microcalli in 20-30 days and grew up to 1 mm or so in dimeter about 40 days of culture. For growth, the calli were transferred to 7 different agar media and from which two suitable media, MB2 and MB3, were selected. Cultured for 40-50 days, the calli grew up, and were transferred to 4 solid media for organ differentiation. Ideal results of shoot regeneration were obtained on MS, medium. About 2 weeks after rooted on the MS medium without any auxin, intact plants were regenerated.     

Gene transferability from transgenic Brassica napus L. to various subspecies and varieties of Brassica rapa

Gene transferability from transgenic rapeseed to various subspecies and varieties of Brassica rapa was assessed in this study. Artificial crossability was studied in 118 cultivars of 7 B. rapa subspecies and varieties with the transgenic rapeseed GT73 (Brassica napus) as the pollen donor. On average 5.7 seeds were obtained per pollination, with a range from 0.05 to 19.4. The heading type of B. rapa L. showed significantly higher crossability than non-heading types of B. rapa. The spontaneous outcrossing rate between B. rapa (female) and the transgenic rapeseed Ms8 × Rf3 (B. napus) (male) ranged from 0.039 to 0.406%, with an average of 0.19%. The fertilization process and the development of the hybrid seeds as shown by fluorescent staining techniques indicated that the number of adhered pollens on the stigma was reduced by 80%, the number of pollen tubes in the style was reduced by 2/3 and the fertilization time was delayed by over 20 h when pollinated with the transgenic rapeseed Ms8 × Rf3 in comparison with the bud self-pollination of B. rapa as control. About 10–70% of the interspecific hybrid embryos were aborted in the course of development. Some seeds looked cracked in mature pods, which showed germination abilities lower than 10%. The spontaneous outcrossing rates were much lower than the artificial crossability, and their survival fitness of the interspecific hybrid was very low, indicating that it should be possible to keep the adventitious presence of the off-plants under the allowed threshold, if proper measures are taken.     

High frequency of plant regeneration from hypocotyl explants of Brassica carinata A. Br.

An efficient tissue culture system for high frequency of plant regeneration from hypocotyl explants of Brassica carinata was developed via manipulation of culture medium and selection of explants. Explants grown on medium containing combinations of 2 mg l^-1 BA and 0.01 mg l^-1 NAA or 4 mg l^-1 kinetin and 0.01 mg l^-1 2,4-D regenerated shoots at 100% frequency. High frequency shoot regeneration occurred only from explants originating from 6 to 7-day-old but not younger or older seedlings. Explants showed higher regeneration capacity at the distal end than the proximal end, and the upper segment was more regenerative than the lower segment of hypocotyl. Regenerants were rooted on half-strength growth regulator-free medium, acclimatized and developed into normal, fertile plants.Abbreviations BA benzyladenine - 2-4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - NAA naphthaleneacetic acid - MS Murashige & Skoog     

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of thin cell layer explants from Brassica napus L.

Summary Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of thin cell layer explants (Klimaszewska and Keller 1985) yielded large numbers of transgenic plants of a major Canadian rapeseed cultivar Brassica napus ssp. oleifera cv Westar. The morphology and fertility of these plants were indistinguishable from controls. The Ti plasmid vector, pGV3850 (Zambryski et al. 1983) was used as a cis vector and as a helper plasmid for the binary vector pBin19 (Bevan 1984). Selectable marker genes that conferred resistance to high levels of kanamycin (Km) on Nicotiana tabacum were less efficient in the selection of transgenic B. napus. At low levels of Km (15 g/ml) large numbers of transgenic plants (50%) were identified among the regenerants by nopaline synthase activity and several of these were confirmed by Southern blot analyses. Only a small number were resistant to higher levels of Km (80 g/ml). Preliminary analyses indicated that resistance to Km was transmitted to the selfed progeny. Chimeric chloramphenicol acetyl transferase genes were ineffective biochemical markers in transgenic B. napus.Contribution No. 1092 Plant Research Centre, Ontario, Canada