Callus initiation,growth and plant regeneration in Plantago ovata Forsk. cv. GI-2

The technique for callus initiation, growth and plant regeneration from cultured hypocotyl explants of Plantago ovata cv. GI-2 is described. Best initiation and growth of callus was achieved on Murashige & Skoog's medium containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (1.0 mgl^-1) and kinetin (1.0 mgl^-1). The callus showed maximum shoot differentiation on medium containing kinetin (4.0 mgl^-1) and -naphthaleneacetic acid (0.01 mgl^-1). Root formation of shoots was best on half-strength medium supplemented with 3-indolebutyric acid. The regenerated plants were successfully transferred into pots.     

Micropropagation of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.)

A method for callus induction, adventitious bud regeneration, shoot multiplication and rooting of in vitro formed shoots of Helianthus annuus L. var. Argentario is described. Hypocotyl and cotyledon explants formed callus on medium containing 2 mgl^–1 naphthalene acetic acid and 0.5 mgl^–1 benzyladenine. Adventitious buds were formed on hypocotyl segments on medium containing 0.5–2 mgl^–1 benzyladenine. The optimal level of sucrose concentration for shoot regeneration from hypocotyls was 1.5%. Multiplication from shoot apices was promoted by kinetin (2 mgl^–1) plus gibberellic acid (5 mgl^–1), benzyladenine (2 mgl^–1) plus gibberellic acid (10 mgl^–1) or at lower frequency by benzyladenine (1 mgl^–1). A general feature of the plantlets formed in vitro was the precocious flowering.     

Factors affecting in vitro clonal propagation of Prosopis cineraria

Genotype, age of tree, nature of explant and size (length and diameter), season of explant collection, explant position on medium, plant growth regulators and certain additives (ascorbic and citric acids, adenine sulphate, L-arginine, glutamine and ammonium citrate), incubation conditions, and subculturing period greatly influenced the in vitro clonal propagation of P. cineraria. The maximum number of 10–12 shoots were induced from the nodal shoot segment from pruned thorny adult trees on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium containing 0.1 mgl^-1 indole- 3-acetic acid (IAA)+2.5 mgl^-1 benzylaminopurine (BAP)+additives. Higher temperature (31+-2°C) and mixed (fluorescent and incandescent) light of 50 mol m^-2 s^-1 photon flux density for 12 h per day photoperiod favoured shoot induction and subsequent growth. Explants from thornless trees produced 6–8 shoots per explant on MS medium containing 0.1 mgl^-1 IAA+5.0 mgl^-1 BAP + additives. Nodal shoot segments obtained from root and stump sprouts produced multiple shoots. Root segments differentiated into multiple shoots on MS medium containing 0.5 mgl^-1 indolebutyric acid (IBA)+2.5 mgl^-1 BAP.Differentiated shoots multiplied best on MS medium containing 0.1 mgl^-1 naphthalene acetic acid (NAA)+1.0 mgl^-1 BAP + additives. To yield multiple shoots the original explant was transferred 6 times on fresh medium after harvesting the differentiated shoots. Shoots were rooted by pulsing with 100 mgl^-1 IBA for 4 h and then culturing on hormone-free half strength MS medium. Initial dark incubation for 5 days at high temperature (33±2°C) was found essential for root induction from shoots which was 63% within two weeks. The rooted plantlets contained a consistent number of chromosomes (2n=28). It is suggested that the protocol developed could be useful for cloning of mature and tested trees of P. cineraria.     

Selection of transgenic flax plants is facilitated by spectinomycin

Regeneration of transformed flax shoots after inoculation withAgrobacterium tumefaciens carrying a binary vector with either a neomycin phosphotransferase (nptII) gene and a -glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene or a spectinomycin resistance gene was examined. Hypocotyls from 4-day-old seedlings were inoculated with either of the twoA. tumefaciens strains. Selection and regeneration were achieved on a medium containing 0.1 M thidiazuron, 0.01 M napthalene acetic acid, 100 mgl^–1 kanamycin sulphate or spectinomycin sulphate and 300 mgl^–1 cefotaxime. Use of different neomycins for the selection of transformed tissues did select transformed calli but not transformed shoots either directly or via a callus phase. Selection based on spectinomycin resistance allowed the growth of transformed shoots. Transgenic shoots were rooted on a medium containing 100 mgl^–1 spectinomycin sulphate. Integration of the spectinomycin resistance gene into the flax genome was confirmed by Southern blot hybridizations and spectinomycin resistance was shown to be inherited as a dominant Mendeliant trait. Therefore, spectinomycin resistance is more suitable for genetic engineering of flax than aminoglycoside resistance.     

Induction of mitosis in polytene nuclei and hormonal effect on nuclear changes during callus initiation in diploid Urginea indica Kunth. (liliaceae)

Bulb scale and inflorescence explants of Urginea indica Kunth. (2n=20) were cultured in vitro on modified Murashige & Skoog's medium with different hormonal composition. Media containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxy-acetic acid (2,4-D) (2 and 4 mgl^–1) and -naphthalene-acetic acid (NAA) (2 mgl^–1) could induce callus in inflorescence explants. Combination of 2,4-D (4 mgl^–1) + NAA (2 mgl^–1) + Kinetin (2 mgl^–1) only could induce callus formation in scale explants. The bulb scale explants contained mostly diploid cells while the inflorescence explants contained cells with nuclear DNA content ranging from 2C to 64C. The lowest karyological heterogeneity was recorded in callus derived from bulb scale and in callus derived from inflorescence induced with NAA. The highest variability was recorded on media with 2,4-D alone. Induction of division, probably of the pre-existing polytenic nuclei in the inflorescence explant, has been suggested to be the cause of origin of polyploid cells in such cases.     

Plant regeneration by somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis in commercial pineapple (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ananas comosus</Emphasis> L.)

Summary Axillary and terminal buds from suckers of Ananas comosus cv. Phuket were established on Murashige and Tucker-based (MT) medium with 2.0 mgl⁻¹ (9.8 μM) indolebutyric acid, 2.0 mgl⁻¹ (10.74 μM) naphthaleneacetic acid, and 2.0 mgl⁻¹ (9.29 μM) kinetin, followed by multiplication on Murashige and Skoog-based (MS) medium containing 2.0 mgl⁻¹ (8.87 μM) benzyladenine (BA) to provide a continuous supply of axenic shoots. Leaves, excised from such cultured shoots, produced adventitious shoots from their bases when these explants were cultured on MS medium containing 0.5 mgl⁻¹ (2.26 μM) 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 2.0 mgl⁻¹ (8.87 μM) BA. Embryogenic callus was produced when leaf explants were cultured on MS medium with 3.0 mgl⁻¹ (12.42 μM) 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram). Somatic embryos developed into shoots following transfer of embryogenic tissues to MS medium with 1.0 mgl⁻¹ (4.44 μM) BA. Cell suspensions, initiated by transfer of embryogenic callus to liquid MS medium with 1.0 mgl⁻¹ (4.14 μM) picloram or 1.0 mgl⁻¹ (4.52 μM) 2,4-D, also regenerated shoots by somatic embryogenesis, on transfer of cells to semisolid MS medium with 1.0 mgl⁻¹ (4.44 μM) BA. All regenerated shoots rooted on growth regulator-free MS medium, prior to ex vitro acclimation and transfer to the glasshouse. These studies provide a baseline for propagation, conservation, and genetic manipulation of elite pineapple germplasms.     

Cultural behavior of protoplasts from different organs of eggplant (solanum melongena L.), and plant regeneration

Plants of Solanum melongena were propagated under in vitro conditions (27°C, 12h/day illumination at 62 Em^-2s^-1, 60% humidity) by subculture of terminal and lateral cuttings on MS medium +20 gl^-1 sucrose + Morel and Wetmore vitamins at 1/8 strength and 7 gl^-1 agar. Lamina, petioles and stems of 3-week-old cuttings were used as sources of protoplasts. The best mean yield of protoplasts was obtained from the lamina with 9,030×10³ protoplasts per gram of tissue. Petioles and stems yielded respectively 3,144×10³ and 1,220.4×10³ protoplasts per gram of tissue. first division of petiole and stem protoplasts occurred within 48 h, while lamina protoplasts underwent division after 3–4 days of culture in KM8p medium +2,4-D(0.2 gl^-1) + zeatin (0.5 mgl^-1) + NAA (1 mgl^-1) and 0.35M glucose as osmoticum. The highest percentage of dividing cells was obtained from petiole material, estimated at 33.4% after 7 days, compared to 23.8% and 19.4% respectively for stem and lamina protoplasts. When BAP replaced zeatin in KM8p, the division percentage of lamina protoplasts was reduced to 10–15%. When transferred to regeneration medium, all calli derived from KM8p + zeatin formed deep-green spots identified as embryo-like structures, while only few calli from KM8p + BAP underwent shoot organogenesis without formation of green spots. Some of embryo-like structure developed into plantlets with a frequency of 1–2 plantlets per callus especially on MS medium + zeatin (4 mgl^-1) + IAA (0.2 mgl^-1). Maintaining protoplast-derived calli on MS + BAP (0.5 mgl^-1) + NAA (0.5 mgl^-1) for more than 3 weeks resulted in a decrease and loss of cell totipotency.Abbreviations (IAA) Indol-3-acetic acid - (2,4-D) 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - (NAA) naphthale-neacetic - (BAP) 6-benzylaminopurine - (MS) Murashige and Skoog basal medium - (CPW) Cell and Protoplast Washing solution     

Cloning of Maytenus emarginata (Willd.) Ding Hou — a tree of the Indian Desert,through tissue culture

Summary An in vitro method for cloning and mass multiplication of Maytenus emarginata, a highly drought resistant tree of the Indian Desert, has been developed. Shoot segments harvested from a plus tree (30-year-old) were cultured to produce multiple shoots (10–15 shoots/explant) on MS medium containing 0.1 mgl^–1 IAA and 2.5mgl^–1 BAP. In vitro produced shoots were cut into segments and cultured on shoot proliferation medium but with only 1.0 mgl^–1 of BAP to further multiply the shoots. Isolated individual shoots were cultured on a filter paper bridge in half strength MS liquid medium containing 25 mgl^–1 of IBA for 72 h in the dark at 28±2⁰ C for induction of root(s). About 70–80 percent of shoots rooted. The treelets developed were hardened and transferred to pots. Around 20,000 plants can be obtained from a single explant within a period of 6 months. The protocol is highly reproducible and efficient.Abbreviations IAA indole-3-acetic acid - IBA indole-3-butyric acid - NAA -naphthalene acetic acid - NOA -naphthoxy acetic acid - BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - Kn 6-furfurylaminopurine - B5 Gamborg et al. (1968) medium - MS Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium     

Establishment and multiplication of colchi-autotetraploids of Rauvolfia serpentina L. Benth. ex Kurz. through tissue culture

A tissue culture procedure was developed for the establishment and propagation of a colchi-autotetraploid of Rauvolfia serpentina for possible commercial exploitation. Multiplication of autotetraploid shoots was obtained either through axillary bud elongation on Murashige and Skoog [1] medium (MS) containing 2.65 M (0.5 mgl^–1) -naphthaleneacetic acid and 0.33 M (0.05 mgl^–1) kinetin, or via multiple shoot formation on MS medium supplemented with 4.44 M (1.0 mgl^–1) 6-benzylaminopurine and 0.53 M (0.1 mgl^–1) -naphthaleneacetic acid. Rooting could be induced by transferring the shoots to MS medium containing 7.95 M (1.5 mgl^–1) -naphthaleneacetic acid alone. The plantlets, thus formed, were tetraploid in nature by cytological observations of the root tips. They exhibited 80–90% success in establishment under glass house and field conditions.     

Tissue culture and plant propagation of Gomphrena officinalis — a Brazilian medicinal plant

Leaf and stem segments of Gomphrena officinalis originated from aseptically grown seedlings were used to initiate cultures. Callus production was obtained on gelled Murashige & Skoog medium supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine alone (1.0, 5.0 or 10.0 mgl^-1) or combined with -naphthalene acetic acid (0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 mgl^-1) after 10 to 15 days of culture, and can be transferred to fresh medium every 30 days. The combinations of 5.0 or 10.0 mgl^-1 of 6-benzylaminopurine with 0.1 mgl^-1 of -naphthalene acetic acid were found to be the best for shoot regeneration. Adventitious shoot formation occurred after 50 to 60 days of culture in leaf and internode stem explants. Nodal segments developed actively growing lateral buds after 30 days of culture. Gelled Murashige & Skoog medium containing 10 mgl^-1 of indole-3-butyric acid was considered optimal for the rooting of shoots. Rooted plants transferred to potting soil could be successfully established.Abbreviations BA 6-benzylaminopurine - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - IBA indole-3-butyric acid - MS Murashige & Skoog - NAA -naphthalene acetic acid     

Genetic transformation and plant regeneration of watermelon using Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Adventitious shoots formed on the proximal cut edges of different cotyledonary explants of watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai; cvs. Sweet Gem and Gold Medal] cultured on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium with 1 mgl^-1 6-benzyladenine (BA). Light (16-h photoperiod, about 7 Wm^-2 cool-white fluorescent lamps) was essential for shoot formation. To obtain transformed plants, cotyledonary explants of Sweet Gem were cocultured with Agrobacterium tumefaciens LBA4404, a disarmed strain harboring a binary vector pBI121 carrying the CaMV 35S promoter--glucuronidase (GUS) gene fusion used as a reporter gene and NOS promoter-neomycin phosphotransferase gene as a positive selection marker, for 48 h on MS medium with 1 mgl^-1 BA and 200 M -hydroxyacetosyringone. After 48 h of culture, explants were transferred to medium with 1 mgl^-1 BA 250 mgl^-1 carbenicillin, and 100 mgl^-1 kanamycin and cultured in the light. Adventitious shoots formed on the explants after 4 weeks of culture. When subjected to GUS histochemical assay, young leaves obtained from the shoots showed a positive response at a frequency of up to 16%. Preculturing cotyledonary explants on MS medium with 1 mgl^-1 BA for 5 d enhanced the competence of the cells to be transformed by Agrobacterium. Southern blot analysis confirmed that the GUS gene was incorporated into the genomic DNA of the GUS-positive regenerants. The transformed plants were grown to maturity.     

Plant regeneration from callus of Puccinellia distans (L.) Parl

Callus was induced from seeds of Puccinellia distans (L.) Parl. on MS medium supplemented with 2 mgl^-1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 0.5 mgl^-1 kinetin. Morphogenesis initiation was achieved during subculture on medium containing 0.1 mgl^-1 2,4-D. From the point of morphogenetic capacity, 3 types of callus were selected. High frequency of plant regeneration was obtained by selection of embryogenic type of callus, and culture on N₆ medium and N₆ medium supplemented with kinetin (5–10 mgl^-1), or kinetin (2 mgl^-1) and IAA (0.5 mgl^-1). A high ratio of albinos among regenerants was observed.     

An improved method for callus proliferation and regeneration of Fuchsia hybrida

Best callus initiation was obtained when single-node explants of Fuchsia hybrida were incubated in the light on Gamborg B5 medium containing 5×10^-6 M indoleacetic acid and benzylaminopurine at 5×10^-7 M or 10^-6 M. Healthy callus proliferation was maintained in darkness on full-strength B5 medium supplemented with 5×10^-6 M IAA and 5×10^-7 M BAP. Regeneration from callus was obtained in 3 to 6 weeks, using half-strength hormone-free Campbell & Durzan medium.Abbreviations BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - 2,4-D 2,4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - IAA indoleacetic acid - IBA indolebutyric acid - NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid - SE standard error     

Long-lasting <Emphasis Type="Italic">Capsicum baccatum</Emphasis> ‘Organogenic callus’ formation

Summary Capsicum regeneration is often obtained through direct (adventious) regeneration and only a few reports claim indirect regeneration (through callus) as an option to obtain complete plants. A possible reason for this may be because Capsicum cultures offer a narrow window in time for the regeneration process to occur, and after that, the ability to regenerate plants rapidly diminishes. In this study, the C. baccatum radicle-side half-seed was the explant of choice to induce the formation of callus on semisolid Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium supplemented with 5 mgl⁻¹ (22.2μM) 6-benzylaminopurine, 1 mgl⁻¹ (5.7μM) indole-3-acetic acid, and 2 mgl⁻¹ (6.1μM) gibberellic acid. Organogenic calluses developed within 4–5 mo. and were subcultured every 2 mo. thereafter. Eventual bud elongation occurred and these shoots developed into complete plants after transfer to medium without plant growth regulators. The organogenic callus type retained its organogenic ability for more than 3 yr.     

In vitro propagation of the bamboo (Bambusa tulda Roxb.) through shoot proliferation

An efficient protocol has been developed for the in vitro propagation of Bambusa tulda through shoot proliferation. Shoots from 3-week-old aseptically grown seedlings were used to initiate cultures. Multiple shoots were obtained on liquid Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine (8×10^–6M) and kinetin (4×10^–6M). Continuous shoot proliferation at a rate of 4–5 fold every three weeks was achieved through forced axillary branching. More than 90% of the shoots could be rooted on a modified MS medium containing indoleacetic acid (1×10^–5M) and coumarin (6.8×10^–5M). Following simple hardening procedures, the in vitro raised plants were transferred to the soil with more than 80% success.Abbreviations BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - 2-ip 6-,-dimethylallylaminopurine - Kn kinetin - IAA 3-indoleacetic acid - IBA 3-indolebutyric acid - NAA 1-naphthaleneacetic acid     

In vitro propagation of Hosta sieboldiana using excised ovaries from immature florets

Ovaries from immature florets were selected as an improved explant source for in vitro cultures of Hosta sieboldiana. Culturing for 30 days on a modified Murashige & Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with thiamine (0.4 mgl^-1) and glycine (2.0 mgl^-1) induced the highest frequency of callus growth at 5.4 M NAA and 4.4 M BA, and the highest frequency of shoot initiation at 0.4 M BA. The severed basal portion of the ovary was the site of shoot growth. Eliminating phytohormones and adding 80 mgl^-1 of AdSO₄ significantly enhanced root initiation. Rooted plantlets were established in sterilized vermiculite containing MS mineral salts. A cold treatment (1°C) of 30 days in the dark was necessary to break dormancy of the rooted plantlets.Abbreviations AdSO₄ adenine sulfate - BA benzylaminopurine - NAA naphthaleneacetic acid     

Micropropagation of Capparis decidua (Forsk.) Edgew. — a tree of arid horticulture

A method for micropropagation of mature trees of Capparis decidua was developed. Multiple shoots were obtained from nodal explants on Murashige and Skoog's (1962) medium+0.1mgl^–1 NAA+5.0mgl^–1BAP+additives (50mgl^–1 ascorbic acid and25 mgl^–1 each of adenine sulphate, L-arginine and citric acid) at 28 ± 2°C, 12 h/dphotoperiod and 35–40 mol m^-2s^–1 photon flux density. The shoots were multiplied by (i) subculture of nodal shoot segments onto MS +0.1 mgl^-–1 IAA+1.0mgl^–1 BAPH+additives, and (ii) repeated transfer of original explant onto MS+ 0.1mgl^–1 IAA+mg l^–1 BAP+additives, at intervals of 3 weeks. Sixty to 70% of the shoots rooted when pulse treated with 100 mg l^–1 IBA in half strength MS liquid medium for 4h, and then transferred onto hormone-free half-strength agar-gelled MS basal saltmedium. Incubation in dark at 33 ± 2°C for 6d favoured root induction. In vitro hardened plants were transferred to pots.Abbreviations IAA Indole-3-aceticacid - IBA Indole-3-butyric acid - NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid - BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - Kn 6-furfurylaminopurine - 2-ip Isopentenyl adenine - B₅ Gamborg et al. (1968) medium - MS Murashige and Skoog's (1962) medium - WP Woody plant medium (Lloyd and McCown 1981)     

Somaclonal variation in watercress for resistance to crook root disease

Summary Watercress (Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum) shoots were regenerated from callus initiated from petioles on a range of media. The best coefficient of regeneration was obtained when callus was induced on a medium containing 0.25 mgl^-1 thidiazuron and 0.05 mgl{si-1} 2,4-D, followed by regeneration on 0.25 mgl^-1 thidiazuron. Plants were then screened for resistance to crook root disease of watercress in a laboratory screening test which revealed significant somaclonal variation between the controls and some of the somaclones.     

Plant regeneration from cotyledon protoplasts of Brassica carinata

Protoplasts isolated from cotyledons of Brassica carinata, underwent sustained division when cultured at 5.0 × 10⁴ ml^-1 in modified 8p medium (KM8P) with 1.0% (w/v) Seaplaque agarose. Cell colonies produced callus when agarose droplets, in which the protoplasts were embedded, were transferred to K8 medium with 0.6% (w/v) Sigma Type I or Type VII agarose at day 16, giving a plating efficiency of 1.6%. Seventy percent of the protoplast derived-tissues produced shoot buds after subculture to MS medium containing 3.0% (w/v) sucrose, 1.125 mgl^-1 BAP, 0.035 mgl^-1 GA and 0.6% (w/v) Type I agarose, resulting in shoot formation from 1.1% of the protoplasts originally plated. Protoplast-derived colonies transferred to hormone-free MS medium with 1.0% (w/v) sucrose and 0.6% (w/v) Type I agarose produced roots. The latter gave rise to shoots after excision from the parent callus and culture on MS medium with 3.0% sucrose, 0.225 mgl^-1 BAP, and 0.6% (w/v) Type I agarose. Shoots regenerated directly from protoplast-derived calli, or indirectly from roots, developed prolific root systems when placed on hormone-free MS medium with 1.0% (w/v) sucrose and 0.6% (w/v) Type I agarose.Abbreviations BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - CH casein hydrolysate - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - GA gibberellic acid - K kinetin - NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid - MES 2(N-morpholino)ethanesulphonic acid, 2,iP-6(,-dimethylallyamino) purine - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - Z zeatin - ZR zeatin riboside     

Impact of cefotaxime on somatic embryogenesis and shoot regeneration in sugarcane

A cephalosporin antibiotic, cefotaxime (Omnatax™) promoted somatic embryogenesis and subsequent shoot regeneration in vitro from spindle in sugarcane irrespective of the genotypes as (CoJ 83, CoJ 88 and CoJ 64) culturered on MS medium with 2,4-D (2.5 mgl⁻¹) and kinetin (0.5 mgl⁻¹). Seven different concentrations of cefotaxime (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700 mgl⁻¹) were tested to find the optimal concentration of cefotaxime for somatic embryogenesis from callus cultures. Among the three varieties, calli of variety CoJ 83 incubated on MS medium with 2,4-D (2.5 mgl⁻¹) + kinetin (0.5 mgl⁻¹) + cefotaxime (500 mgl⁻¹) exhibited maximum somatic embryogenesis. To improve shoot regeneration, the callus was transferred to MS medium with BAP (0.5 mgl⁻¹) + kinetin (0.5 mgl⁻¹) in combination with different levels of cefotaxime. Highest frequency of shoot regeneration was observed in callus of CoJ 83 in the presence of 500 mgl⁻¹ cefotaxime. The plantlets could be successfully hardened in polybags and transferred to soil, where they exhibited normal growth. Our results convincingly demonstrated that cefotaxime improves somatic embryogenesis from spindle and regeneration from embryogenic calli of sugarcane and hence can be strongly recommended for rapid and large scale multiplication of sugarcane.Key words: Saccharum officinarum L., leaf segments, callus, plant regeneration, antibiotic