Optimizing somatic embryogenesis and particle bombardment of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) immature embryos

Summary A highly regenerable target tissue and a high-frequency DNA delivery system are required for the routine production of transgenic barley. This project separately optimized tissue culture and particle bombardment parameters. Immature zygotic embryos (0.7 to 1.2 mm) were excised and culture on B5L solid medium. Klages and H930-36 cultivars regenerated significantly more green plants than Sabarlis and Bruce. The regeneration pathway shifted from organogenesis to somatic embryogenesis when maltose was used as the medium carbohydrate source instead of sucrose. More somatic embryos were induced on 5 mg/liter 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid than 2 mg/liter. Gene delivery was optimized using anthocyanin regulatory genes as a transient marker. A 3-mm rupture disc-to-macrocarrier gap distance, a 1-day prebombardment embryo culture period, and a maltose carbohydrate source were each significantly better than other treatments. Double bombardments per plate, a 6-mm macrocarrier fly distance, and 650-psi rupture discs each had the highest number of transiently expressing cells in individual experiments, although the results were not statistically significant compared to the other treatments. Using the optimized parameters, over 200 cells routinely expressed anthocyanin in a bombarded immature embryo. In tissue culture experiments, 350 to 400 green plants regenerated per 100 immature embryos. The improvement of green plant regeneration and gene delivery forms a strong basis to develop a practical barley transformation system.     

Primary callus as source of totipotent barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) protoplasts

Summary Primary callus of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) derived from scutella (cv. Dissa) and anthers (cv. Igri) was used for protoplast isolation and plant regeneration. The protoplasts were embedded in agarose and cultured with nurse cells. The plating efficiency varied from 0.1% to 0.7%. Shoots regenerated from the developing callus. Plantlets were transferred to soil and cultivated in the greenhouse three to five months after protoplast isolation. All plants were normal in morphology, and most of them flowered and set seeds.     

Plant regeneration from protoplasts of wild barley (Hordeum murinum L.)

Summary We have produced a large number of plants regenerated from protoplasts originally isolated from embryo-derived cell suspensions of wild barley, Hordeum murinum L.. Suspensions initially allowed protoplast isolation and culture 5.5 to 9 months from the date of callus initiation. Colony formation efficiencies ranged from 1.5 to 3.0 % and from 0.1 to 1.4 % for protoplast cultures with and without nurse cells, respectively. Both nurse and non-nurse techniques allowed efficient embryogenesis and plant regeneration. More than 400 shoots/plantlets have been obtained from 6 independent experiments. Over 150 plants have been transferred to the greenhouse. Protoplasts isolated from the youngest suspensions (5.5 months old) gave rise to the largest number of plants. Protoplasts isolated from suspensions as old as 15 months were also regenerable.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - NAA naphthaleneacetic acid - L1, L2 medium according to Lazzeri et al. 1991 - L3 medium medium according to Jähne et al. 1991a     

Plant regeneration in vitro from embryogenic cultures of spring- and winter-type barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) varieties

Summary Immature embryos of 41 lines of barley were screened in vitro for callus induction and somatic embryogenesis on different media to establish totipotent cultures. The use of modified MS and CC media, both supplemented with 1 g/l casein hydrolysate, and the substitution of agarose for agar resulted in the highest frequencies of somatic embryo induction. Embryogenic callus was induced and plants regenerated from 23 of the lines tested. The auxins 2,4-D, dicamba, picloram and 2,4,5-T were suitable for embryogenic callus induction. High frequencies of somatic embryo germination occurred on CC medium supplemented with 1 mg/l IAA and 0.05 mg/l zeatin. A strong genotypic effect on the capacity and frequency of embryogenic callus formation was found. Cultivar Golden Promise always gave the best results. Experiments with field grown material in 3 consecutive years showed that environmental factors also strongly influenced the induction of somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - 2,4,5-T 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid - dicamba 3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid - picloram 4-amino-3,6,6-trichloropicolinic acid - NAA naphtaleneacetic acid - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - ABA abscisic acid - BAP 6-benzyl amino purine - 2iP 6-(3-methyl-2 butenyl 1-amino)purine - GA₃ gibberellic acid     

Chromosomal variation in immature embryo derived calluses of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Summary Chromosome counts of ten morphogenic and seven non-morphogenic immature embryo derived calluses of barley,Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Himalaya, were determined. Morphogenic calluses carried the normal chromosome complement (2n=2x=14) in a majority of the cells. A low frequency of haploid (2n=x=7), triploid (2n=3x=21), tetraploid (2n=4x=28) and octoploid (2n=8x=56) cells were also observed. In contrast, non-regenerability of a callus was attributed to the cells having numerical and structural chromosomal changes. In these calluses, aneuploid cells around diploid, triploid, and tetraploid chromosome numbers predominated. It has been demonstrated that chromosomal changes were induced during the culture and that they did not pre-exist in the cultured barley embryos. Based on this study, it is suggested that chromosome analysis of a non-regenerable callus should be conducted before altering the media composition.     

Plant regeneration by pollen embryogenesis from cultured whole spikes of barley (Hordeum vulgare)

Summary Pollen embryogenesis and subsequent plant regeneration have been established from cultured whole barley spikes in agitated N6 liquid medium (Chu 1978) containing high levels of 2,4-D, Ficoll and potato extract. Microspore division within the anthers and subsequent embryogenic development were obtained in medium containing high amounts of reduced nitrogen with Zeatin, NAA and BAP (all at 0.5 mg/l levels, pH 6.2). Once embryoids were formed in the liquid medium, they produced secondary embryoids from the scutellum and subsequently plants on MS (Murashige and Skoog 1962) agar medium containing BAP and NAA. The ratio of green plants to albino was 18.7.     

Organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis from callus cultures in Muscari armeniacum Leichtl. ex Bak.

Summary Establishment of fast-growing, highly regenerable callus cultures was examined in Muscari armeniacum Leichtl. ex Bak. in order to develop an efficient genetic transformation system. High-frequency callus formation was obtained from leaf explants of cv. Blue Pearl on media containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) or 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram, PIC). Fast-growing, yellowish nodular callus lines and white friable callus lines containing a few somatic embryos were established on initiation medium supplemented with 4.5 μM 2,4-D and with 54 μM NAA, respectively. The yellowish nodular calluses vigorously produced shoot buds after transfer to media containing 0.44–44 μM 6-benzyladenine (BA), whereas the white friable calluses produced numerous somatic embryos upon transfer to plant growth regulator-free (PGR-F) medium. Histological observation of shoot buds and somatic embryos indicated that the former consisted of an apparent shoot meristem and several leaf primordia, and the latter had two distinct meristematic regions, corresponding to shoot and root meristems. Both shoot buds and somatic embryos developed into complete plantlets on PGR-F medium. Regenerated plants showed no observable morphological alterations. High proliferation and regeneration ability of these calluses, were maintained for over 2 yr.     

Effect of anther orientation on microspore-callus production in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Barley anthers from cold pretreated spikes produced no or few calluses when plated with both loculi in contact with the medium (flat). When anthers were plated with only one loculus in contact with the medium (up), a high proportion of the anthers produced calluses. The top loculus of the up anthers was most productive. Flat anthers, when compared with up anthers, were not only slower to produce multicellular pollen grains (MCPs) and microcalluses, but also produced fewer of them and ceased production earlier. The MCPs and microcalluses in flat anthers grew more slowly and few developed beyond the 30 cell stage. These results establish the importance of anther orientation for barley anther culture.     

High Frequency Plant Regeneration from Astragalus melilotoides hypocotyl and stem explants via somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis

An efficient and reproducible procedure is established for the plant regeneration from hypocotyl explants and hypocotyl-or stem-derived calli in Astragalus melilotoides. High frequency somatic embryo formation (98.3%) occurred direct on hypocotyls on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2.69 µM NAA and 4.44 µM BA within 5 weeks. Three types of calli were induced from the hypocotyl and stem segments on MS medium containing 9.05 µM 2,4-D and 2.22–4.44 µM BA. Both somatic embryos and adventitious buds were initiated from hypocotyl-derived calli while only adventitious buds were formed from stem-derived calli in MS medium supplemented with 2.69 µM NAA and 4.44–8.89 µM BA. Somatic embryos or adventitious buds developed into plantlets following being cultured for 3 weeks on MS medium without any growth regulators or with 14.78 µM IBA, respectively. All the regenerated plants were normal with respect to morphology and growth characters, and produced fertile seeds after planting in soil.     

Improved somatic embryogenesis from Cocos nucifera (L.) plumule explants

Summary Coconut is one of the most recalcitrant species to regenerate in vitro. Although previous research efforts using plumule explants have resulted in reproducible somatic embryogenesis, efficiency is only 4 or 10 somatic embryos per plumule without or with a brassinolide treatment, respectively. In order to increase the efficiency of somatic embryogenesis in coconut, two different approaches were evaluated and reported here: secondary somatic embryogenesis and multiplication of embryogenic callus. Primary somatic embryos obtained from plumule explants were used as explants and formed both embryogenic callus and secondary somatic embryos. The embrogenic calluses obtained after three multiplication cycles were capable of producing somatic embryos. The efficiency of the system was evaluated in a stepwise process beginning with an initial step for inducing primary somatic embryogenesis followed by three steps for inducing secondary somatic embryogenesis followed by three steps for embryogenenis callus multiplication, and finally production of somatic embryos from callus. The total calculated yield from one plumule was 98 000 somatic embryos. Comparing this to the yield obtained from primary somatic embryogenesis results in about a 50 000-fold increase. When compared to the yield previously reported in the literature with the use of a brassinolide treatment, it is about a 10 000-fold increase in yield. The present protocol represents important progress in improvement in the efficiency of coconut somatic embryo production.     

Callus culture of Coronilla varia L. (crownvetch): plant regeneration through somatic embryogenesis

Callus culture and plant regeneration through somatic embryogenesis have been obtained in Coronilla varia. Media used were UM (25) supplemented with 2 mg/l 2,4-D followed by subculture on MS (18) containing 1 mg/l 2-iP and 0.1 mg/l IAA. Embryoids developed into complete plantlets on filter paper saturated with hormone-free MS medium.     

Chromosomal variation in dividing protoplasts derived from cell suspensions of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Summary Numerical and structural chromosome variation was analysed in dividing protoplasts isolated from suspension cells of barley. Five cell lines exhibited distribution patterns in chromosome number with different peaks and ranges. Embryogenic/morphogenic cell lines showed a peak at 2n = 14 (ca. 50%) after 6–7 months in culture, while older non-embryogenic cell lines had peaks at aneuploid or polyploid chromosome numbers. Culture duration had a clear effect on numerical and structural chromosome variation in embryogenic cell lines. With ageing of the cultures chromosome variation accumulated and the proportion of 2n = 14 cells decreased. The effect of protoplast isolation and culture on chromosome variation was examined; more cells with normal chromosome sets (12%) were maintained in protoplast-derived colonies than in source suspension cells (4%) of the same culture age.Abbreviations DC Dicentric - F fragment - T telocentric     

Triple hybridization with cultivated barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Summary A crossing programme for trispecific hybridization including cultivated barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) as the third parent was carried out. The primary hybrids comprised 11 interspecific combinations, each of which had either H. jubatum or H. lechleri as one of the parents. The second parent represented species closely or distantly related to H. jubatum and H. lechleri. In trispecific crosses with diploid barley, the seed set was 5.7%. Crosses with tetraploid barley were highly unsuccessful (0.2% seed set). Three lines of diploid barley were used in the crosses, i.e. Gull, Golden Promise and Vada. Generally, cv Gull had high crossability in crosses with related species in the primary hybrid. It is suggested that Gull has a genetic factor for crossability not present in cv Vada and cv Golden Promise. One accession of H. brachyantherum used in the primary hybrid had a very high crossability (seed set 54.7%) in combination with cv Vada but no viable offspring was produced. In all, two trispecific hybrids were raised, viz. (H. lechleri x H. brevisubulatum) x Gull (2n=7–30) and (H. jubatum x H. lechleri) x Gull (2n=20–22). The first combination invariably had a full complement of seven barley chromosomes plus an additional chromosome no. 7, but a varying number of chromosomes (19–22) of the wild-species hybrid. The second combination had a full set of barley chromosomes. The meiotic pairing was low in both combinations.     

High frequency plant regeneration from anther-derived cell suspension cultures via somatic embryogenesis in Catharanthus roseus

Summary A system for high frequency plant regeneration from cell suspension cultures in Catharanthus roseus is described. Calli were obtained from anthers cultured on Murashige and Skoog's medium supplemented with 1 mgl^-1 -naphthaleneacetic acid and 0.1 mgl^-1 kinetin. After the second subculture on solid medium, embryogenic callus was identified and transferred to liquid medium to initiate suspension cultures. Cells dispersed finely in the medium were subcultured at 14-day intervals. Upon plating onto the basal medium, yellowish compact colonies proliferated from the cells and more than 80% of them gave rise to somatic embryos. Subsequently, plantlets developed from the embryos. Both the plantlets and the source plants showed the normal somatic chromosome number of 2n=2x=16.Abbreviations MS Murashige and Skoog - MSNK MS medium + 1 mgl^-1 NAA + 0.1 mgl^-1 kinetin - NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid     

High capacity of plant regeneration from callus of interspecific hybrids with cultivated barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Callus was induced from hybrids between cultivated barley (Hordeum vulgare L. ssp. vulgare) and ten species of wild barley (Hordeum L.) as well as from one backcross line ((H. lechleri x H. vulgare) x H. vulgare). Successful callus induction and regeneration of plants were achieved from explants of young spikes on the barley medium J 25–8. The capacity for plant regeneration was dependent on the wild parental species. In particular, combinations with four related wild species, viz. H. jubatum, H. roshevitzii, H. lechleri, and H. procerum, regenerated high numbers of plants from calli.     

Plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis in many cultivars of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Summary Embryogenic callus was formed from several cultivars of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) when sections of hypocotyl and cotyledon were cultured on medium supplemented with 5 mg/liter 6-(γ, γ-dimethylallyl-amino)-purine (2iP) and 0.1 mg/liter α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) for callus initiation and proliferation, and subcultured on medium supplemented with 5 mg/liter NAA and 0.1 to 1 mg/liter 2iP for embryogenic callus induction. It seems that a high 2iP:auxin ratio is preferred for callus initiation and proliferation, but should be exchanged with a higher NAA:cytokinin ratio before differentiation will occur. Embryogenic calluses were recovered at a frequency of 2 to 85% depending on the cultivar used. Coker cultivars produced embryogenic callus faster and at higher frequencies than other cultivars. Embryogenic callus produced somatic embryos on phytohormone-free medium. This medium was used to maintain and proliferate embryogenic callus for a perid of 18 to 24 mo. Somatic embryos were converted to plants on a lower ionic strength medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/liter gibberellic acid (GA₃) and 0.01 mg/liter NAA. Glucose was the only carbohydrate used through all phases of tissue culture and was much better than sucrose, on which phenolic production was very high. High temperature (30° C) and low light intensity (9 μE · m⁻² · s⁻¹) were optimal conditions for callus initiation, embryogenic callus induction, and maintenance, whereas lower temperature (25° C) and high light intensity (90 μE · m⁻² s⁻¹) were the optimal conditions for somatic embryo maturation, germination, and plantlet development. Plants could be regenerated within 10 to 12 wk in Cokers or 7 to 8 mo. in others.     

The effects of DNA hypomethylating drugs on androgenesis in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Summary The effects of DNA hypomethylating drugs (azacytidine and ethionine) on induction of microspore-derived calluses and embryos were studied in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) ev. Igri. The results were as follows: (1) Yield of calluses and embryos pretreated with the different concentrations of azacytidine for 3 d was several-fold higher than that of the control. The highest yield of calluses and embryos in all treatments appeared at a concentration of 3 mg l⁻¹, which reached 11.03 per anther. It was 110-fold higher than the control. (2) There was a significant difference in yield of calluses and embryos between the different days of pretreatment. The highest yield was obtained at a 3-d pretreatment. If the period of pretreatment was shorter or longer than 3 d, yield of calluses and embryos was reduced sharply, and was similar to that of the control. (3) The data obtained with ethionine pretreatment were very similar to those obtained with azacytidine. (4) Tests on the different methods of pretreatment showed that yield of calluses and embryos pretreated with distilled H₂O, mannitol, azacytidine, and ethionine was much higher than other pretreatments and the control, and reached 6.53–11.39 per anther. The yield of calluses and embryos pretreated with DNA hypomethylating drugs was higher than with mannitol. However, pretreatment with hypomethylation drugs supplemented with induction medium was not effective.     

Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from floral explants of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) using thidiazuron

Summary A procedure for the regeneration of cacao (Theobroma cacao) plants from staminode explants via somatic embryogenesis was developed. Rapidly growing calli were induced by culturing staminode explants on a DKW salts-based primary callus growth (PCG) medium supplemented with 20 g glucose per L, 9 μM 2,4-D, and thidiazuron (TDZ) at various concentrations. Calli were subcultured onto a WPM salts-based secondary callus growth medium supplemented with 20 g glucose per L, 9 μM 2,4-D, and 1.4 nM kinetin. Somatic embryos were formed from embryogenic calli following transfer to a hormone-free DKW salts-based embryo development medium containing sucrose. The concentration of TDZ used in PCG medium significantly affected the rate of callus growth, the frequency of embryogenesis, and the number of somatic embryos produced from each responsive explant. A TDZ concentration of 22.7 nM was found to be the optimal concentration for effective induction of somatic embryos from various cacao genotypes. Using this procedure, we recovered somatic embryos from all 19 tested cacao genotypes, representing three major genetic group types. However, among these genotypes, a wide range of variation was observed in both the frequency of embryogenesis, which ranged from 1 to 100%, and the average number of somatic embryos produced from each responsive explant, which ranged from 2 to 46. Two types of somatic embryos were identified on the basis of their visual appearance and growth behavior. A large number of cacao plants have been regenerated from somatic embryos and established in soil in a greenhouse. Plants showed morphological and growth characteristics similar to those of seed-derived plants. The described procedure may allow for the practical use of somatic embryogenesis for clonal propagation of elite cacao clones and other applications that require the production of a large number of plants from limited source materials.     

High frequency plant regeneration from mature embryo explants of highland barley (Hordeum vulgare L. var. nudum Hk. f.) under endosperm-supported culture

An in vitro protocol for efficient plant regeneration has been developed from mature embryo explants of highland barley (Hordeum vulgare L. var. nudum Hk. f.) under endosperm-supported culture. Embryos with (endosperm-supported culture, ES) or without endosperm (non-endosperm-supported culture, NES) were excised from mature seeds and cultured on MS medium supplemented with various concentrations of 2,4-D (1–5 mg l⁻¹) for callus induction. The percentage of callus induction from ES explants was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than that from NES. The highest frequency (97.6%) of callus induction was obtained from NES explants on MS medium containing 3 mg l⁻¹ 2,4-D. When the primary calli were maintained at a reduced concentration of 2,4-D (0.5 mg l⁻¹) for 3 weeks, embryogenic calli were formed. The embryogenic calli were then transferred to MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of BA (1–5 mg l⁻¹) and 500 mg l⁻¹ casein hydrolysate (CH) for shoot regeneration. However, the capacity of plant regeneration from ES explant-derived calli was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that from NES. The best response (81.3%) was observed from ES explant-derived calli on MS medium containing 2 mg l⁻¹ BA. Regenerated plantlets with well-developed root systems were transferred to pots where they grew well, attained maturity and produced fertile seeds. This method could be employed for genetic manipulation studies.