Induction of hairy roots and plant regeneration from the medicinal plant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pogostemon Cablin</Emphasis>

An efficient transformation system for the medicinal and aromatic plant, Pogostemon cablin Benth was developed by using agropine-type Agrobacterium rhizogenes ATCC15834. Hairy roots formed directly from the cut edges of leaf explants or via callus stage 8 days after inoculation with the bacterium. The highest frequency of leaf explant transformation by Agrobacterium rhizogenes ATCC15834 was about 80% after infection for 25 days. Hairy roots grew rapidly on plant growth regulators (PGRs)-free Murashige and Skoog (MS) or 6,7-V medium and had characteristics of transformed roots such as fast growth and high lateral branching. The PCR amplification showed that rol genes of Ri plasmid of A. rhizogenes were integrated and expressed into the genome of transformed hairy roots. The hairy root line, PL6, grew very slowly in the first 8 days, then grew very quickly between day 8 and day 24. The optimum medium for callus induction of hairy roots consisted of 2.0 mg l⁻¹ benzyladenine (BA) and 0.1 mg/l α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA); while optimum medium for adventitious shoot regeneration from these cultures consisted of 0.1 mg l⁻¹ BA and 0.1 mg l⁻¹ NAA. Adventitious shoots could be rooted on 1/2MS. Southern blot analysis confirmed that rol genes of TL-DNA of Ri plasmid was integrated with at least three copies into the genome of hairy roots- regenerated P. cablin plants. The results presented provide a solid foundation for production of patchouli essential oil from hairy roots or its regenerated plants and also provide possibilities for utilization of artifical polyploidization or chemical mutation of hairy roots for improving germplasm and breeding of a new cultivar of P. cablin.     

Genetic transformation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Harpagophytum procumbens</Emphasis> by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium rhizogenes</Emphasis>: iridoid and phenylethanoid glycoside accumulation in hairy root cultures

A genetic transformation method using Agrobacterium rhizogenes was developed for Harpagophytum procumbens. The influence of three factors on hairy root formation was tested: bacterial strains (A4 and ATCC 15834), various types of explants and acetosyringone (AS) (200 μM). The highest frequency of transformation (over 50% of explants forming roots at the infected sites after 6 weeks of culture on Lloyd and McCown (WP) medium) was achieved using a combination of nodal stem explants and A. rhizogenes strain A4. The addition of 200 μM AS to root induction medium was found to enhance hairy root induction but its effect varied depending on bacterial strain and explant type. Three of the most vigorously growing hairy root clones of H. procumbens were chosen and analyzed for accumulation of iridoid and phenylethanoid glycosides. The transgenic nature of these root clones was confirmed by PCR amplification; they were positive for rolB and rolC genes. Harpagoside, verbascoside and isoverbascoside were identified by HPLC and LC–ESI-MS as the major compounds from all analyzed hairy root clones. The Hp-3 root clone showed the higher harpagoside content (0.32 mg g⁻¹ dry wt.) compared with other analyzed transformed and non-tuberized untransformed roots of H. procumbens. However, the level of the compound in the hairy root clone was lower than that detected in a sample of commercially available root tubers of H. procumbens. The Hp-3 root clone also produced high amounts of verbascoside and isoverbascoside (8.12 mg g⁻¹ dry wt. and 9.97 mg g⁻¹ dry wt., respectively) comparable to those found in root tubers.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In vitro</Emphasis> regeneration of Persian poppy (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Papaver bracteatum</Emphasis>)

Persian poppy (Papaver bracteatum Lindl.) is an important commercial source of medicinal opiates and related compounds. In this research, calli were induced from seeds, roots, cotyledons and hypocotyls of P. bracteatum at a high efficiency. The optimized callus induction media consisted of the Murashige and Skoog (MS) basic media supplemented with 1.0 mg/L 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 0.1 mg/L kinetin and 15 mg/L ascorbic acid. The concentrations of 2,4-D and ascorbic acid were found critical to callus induction and proliferation. Subsequent subcultures resulted in excellent callus proliferation. Ascorbic acid at concentration 15 mg/L increased the callus proliferation significantly. Maximum callus growth was achieved when the explants were incubated at 25°C. MS salts at full strength were found inhibitory for callus induction, while ľ MS salts were found to favor callus induction. Shoot regeneration of calli in vitro was achieved on ľ MS medium containing 0.5 mg/L benzylamine purine and 1.0 mg/L naphthalene acetic acid. Analysis of alkaloid extracts from Persian poppy tissues by high-performance liquid chromatography showed that thebaine accumulated in the tissues of plants. The thebaine alkaloid profile of the Persian poppy is a well-defined model to evaluate the potential for metabolic engineering of thebaine production in P. bracteatum.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">tumefaciens</Emphasis>-mediated transformation of callus cells of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Crataegus</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">aronia</Emphasis>

A genetic transformation system has been developed for callus cells of Crataegus aronia using Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Callus culture was established from internodal stem segments incubated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 5 mg l⁻¹ Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 0.5 mg l⁻¹ 6-benzyladenine (BA). In order to optimize the callus culture system with respect to callus growth and coloration, different types and concentrations of plant growth regulators were tested. Results indicated that the best average fresh weight of red colored callus was obtained on MS medium supplemented with 2 mg l⁻¹ 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 1.5 mg l⁻¹ kinetin (Kin) (callus maintenance medium). Callus cells were co-cultivated with Agrobacterium harboring the binary plasmid pCAMBIA1302 carrying the mgfp5 and hygromycin phosphotransferase (hptII) genes conferring green fluorescent protein (GFP) activity and hygromycin resistance, respectively. Putative transgenic calli were obtained 4 weeks after incubation of the co-cultivated explants onto maintenance medium supplemented with 50 mg l⁻¹ hygromycin. Molecular analysis confirmed the integration of the transgenes in transformed callus. To our knowledge, this is the first time to report an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system in Crataegus aronia.     

Regeneration of transformed plants from hairy roots of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plumbago indica</Emphasis>

Spontaneous shoot regeneration was observed from Agrobacterium rhizogenes-induced hairy roots of Plumbago indica when these were incubated in liquid MS medium for a period of 3 weeks under continuous light. Insertion of the rolB gene in putative transformed plants was confirmed by PCR and sequencing. Transformed plants grown for a period of 1 week on solid MS medium containing 0.5 mg l⁻¹ 6-benzyladenine and then transplanted to growth regulator-free medium showed better overall growth than control plants. Transformed plants had a higher root bio-biomass and an increased plumbagin content relative to non-transformed plants.     

Teratomas of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosera capensis</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">alba</Emphasis> as a source of naphthoquinone: ramentaceone

Plants belonging to genus Drosera (family Droseraceae) contain pharmacologically active naphthoquinones such as ramentaceone and plumbagin. Hairy root cultures obtained following Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation have been reported to produce elevated levels of secondary compounds as well as exhibit desirable rapid biomass accumulation in comparison to untransformed plants. The aim of this study was to establish hairy root or teratoma cultures of Drosera capensis var. alba and to increase the level of ramentaceone in transformed tissue by application of abiotic and biotic elicitors. The appearance of transformed tissues—teratomas but not hairy roots was observed 18 weeks after transformation. The transformation efficiency was 10% and all teratoma cultures displayed about 3 times higher growth rate than non-transformed cultures of D. capesis. The transformation was confirmed by PCR and Southern hybridization using primers based on the A. rhizogenes rolB and rolC gene sequences. HPLC analysis of ramentaceone content indicated 60% higher level of this metabolite in teratoma tissue in comparison to non-transformed cultures. Among the elicitors tested jasmonic acid (2.5 mg l⁻¹) turned out to be the most effective. The productivity of ramentaceone in elicited teratoma cultures was about sevenfold higher than in liquid cultures of D. capensis var. alba and amounted to 2.264 and 0.321 mg respectively during 4 weeks of cultivation. This is the first report on the transformation of Drosera plant with A. rhizogenes.     

In vitro root culture of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ocimum sanctum</Emphasis> L. and evaluation of its free radical scavenging activity

Young leaf explants of Ocimum sanctum L. incubated on solidified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2 mg l⁻¹ 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 0.2 mg l⁻¹ kinetin (Kn) developed rhizogenic callus. When these were subcultured onto MS medium supplemented with 1.5 mg l⁻¹ 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D) and 0.5 mg l⁻¹ NAA, friable rhizogenic callus was observed. Upon transfer of this friable callus onto liquid MS medium containing 4 mg l⁻¹ NAA and 1.3 mg l⁻¹ 6-benzyladnine (BA) under continuous agitation at 90 rpm and 16 h photoperiod, roots with an optimum dry weight of 1,460 mg l⁻¹ were obtained. An ethyl acetate extract of these roots exhibited 1, 1–diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity.     

Transformation through agroinfection on decapitated shoot apex of field-growing <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phyllanthus amarus</Emphasis>

A simple and easy transformation strategy was accomplished on field growing plants of Phyllanthus amarus, an anti-hepatitis B drug plant. Infection of Agrobacterium rhizogenes strains A₄M70GUS and ATCC 15834 on decapitated shoots of field growing P. amarus induced hairy roots and crown gall, respectively. Infection with A₄M70GUS yielded a mean of 23.2 roots from 40% plants in 40-day period. The crown gall induced on 30% plants after infection with ATCC 15834 grew to 5–10 mm in diameter. The roots and crown galls established in vitro on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium grew well. The hairy roots yielded fivefold (6.91 g) biomass in half-strength MS liquid medium to that of the adventitious roots derived from internode explants in MS medium with 8.0 μM α-naphthaleneacetic acid (1.39 g). Histochemical assay and PCR analysis using the primers of uidA coding region confirmed the hairy roots induced by A₄M70GUS. The crown galls induced by ATCC 15834 were confirmed by PCR analysis using rolB gene primers. The protocol enables an easy and early accomplishment of hairy roots.     

Efficient regeneration and antioxidative enzyme activities in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica rapa</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">turnip</Emphasis>

The regeneration potential and antioxidative enzyme activities of economically important Brassica rapa var. turnip were evaluated. Calli were induced from leaf explants of seed-derived plantlets on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium incorporated with different concentrations of various plant growth regulators (PGRs). The highest leaf explant response (83%) was recorded for 2.0 mg l⁻¹ benzyladenine (BA) and 1.0 mg l⁻¹ α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Subsequent subculturing of callus after 3 weeks of culture, on medium with similar compositions of PGRs, induced shoot organogenesis. The highest shoot induction response (83%) was recorded for 5.0 mg l⁻¹ BA after 5 weeks of transfer. However, 7.8 shoots/explant were recorded for 2.0 mg l⁻¹ BA. The transferring of shoots to elongation medium resulted in 5.1-cm-long shoots on 10 mg l⁻¹ of gibberellic acid (GA₃). Rooted plantlets were obtained on MS medium containing different concentrations of indole butyric acid (IBA). The determination of activities of antioxidative enzymes (superoxide dismutase [SOD], ascorbate peroxidase [APX], catalase [CAT], glutathione peroxidase [GPX], and peroxidase [POD]) revealed involvement of these enzymes in callus formation and differentiation. All of the activities were interlinked with each other and played significant roles in the scavenging of toxic free radicals. This study will help in the advancement of a regeneration protocol for B. rapa var. turnip and the understanding of the functions of antioxidative enzymes in plant differentiation.     

Stimulation of saponin production in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Panax ginseng</Emphasis> hairy roots by two oligosaccharides from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paris polyphylla</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">yunnanensis</Emphasis>

Two oligosaccharides, a heptasaccharide (HS) and an octasaccharide (OS), isolated from Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis, stimulated the growth and saponin accumulation of Panax ginseng hairy roots at 5–30 mg l⁻¹. HS and OS at 30 mg l⁻¹, fed separately to hairy root cultures at 10 days post-inoculation, increased the root biomass dry weight by more than 70% to ∼20 g l⁻¹ from 13 g l⁻¹ and the total saponin content of roots by more than 1-fold to ∼3.5% from 1.6% (w/w). The results suggest that the two oligosaccharides may have plant growth-regulatory activity in plant tissue cultures.     

In vitro regeneration of the important North American oak species <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus alba</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus bicolor</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus rubra</Emphasis>

North American oak species, with their characteristic strong episodic seasonal shoot growth, are highly problematic for clonal micropropagation, resulting in the inability to achieve a stabilized shoot multiplication stage. The potential for initiating and proliferating shoot cultures derived from Quercus alba, Q. bicolor and Q. rubra explants was investigated, and a micropropagation method for these species was developed. Branch segments from 6 to 7-year-old trees were forced-flushed and the forced shoots were used as source of explants for culture initiation. A consistent shoot multiplication stage was achieved, in 13 of the 15 genotypes established in vitro, although marked differences occurred in explants from different genotypes/species. The control of efficient shoot multiplication involved the culture of decapitated shoots in a stressful horizontal position on cytokinin-containing medium with a sequence of transfers within a 6-week subculture cycle, which was beneficial to overcoming the episodic character of shoot growth. During each subculture cycle, the horizontally placed explants were cultured on media containing 0.2 mg l⁻¹ benzyladenine (BA) for 2 weeks with two successive transfers (2 weeks each) to fresh medium with 0.1 mg l⁻¹ BA, giving a 6-week subculture cycle. The general appearance and vigor of Q. alba and Q. bicolor shoot cultures were improved by the inclusion of both 0.1 mg l⁻¹ BA and 0.5 mg l⁻¹ zeatin in the medium used for the second transfer within the 6-week subculture cycle. Addition of AgNO₃ (3 mg l⁻¹) to the shoot proliferation medium of Q. rubra had a significant positive effect on shoot development pattern by reducing deleterious symptoms, including shoot tip necrosis and early senescence of leaves. The three species showed acceptable in vitro rooting rates by culturing microcuttings in medium containing 25 mg l⁻¹ indolebutyric acid for 48 h with subsequent transfer to auxin-free medium supplemented with 0.4% activated charcoal. Although an initial 5-day dark period generally improved the rooting response, it was detrimental to the quality of regenerated plantlets. However, activated charcoal stimulated not only the rooting frequencies, but it also enhanced plant quality, as evidenced by root, shoot and leaf growth.     

An <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium tumefaciens</Emphasis>-mediated transformation system using callus of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zoysia tenuifolia</Emphasis> Willd. ex Trin

Zoysia tenuifolia Willd. ex Trin. is one of the most popularly cultivated turfgrass. This is the first report of successful plant regeneration and genetic transformation protocols for Z. tenuifolia using Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Initial calli was induced from stem nodes incubated on a Murashige and Skoog (1962) (MS) medium supplemented with 2 mg l⁻¹ 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 1 mg l⁻¹ 6-benzyladenine (BA), with a frequency of 53%. Compact calli were selected and subcultured monthly on the fresh medium. Sixty-nine percent of the calli could be induced to regenerate plantlets when the calli incubated on a MS medium supplemented with 0.2 mg l⁻¹ BA under darkness. For genetic transformation, calli were incubated with A. tumefaciens strain EHA105 harboring the binary vector pCAMBIA 1301 which contains the hpt gene as a selectable marker for hygromycin resistance and an intron-containing β-glucuronidase gene (gus-int) as a reporter gene. Following co-cultivation, about 12% of the callus explants produced hygromycin resistant calli on MS medium supplemented with 2 mg l⁻¹ 2,4-D, 1 mg l⁻¹ BA, 50 mg l⁻¹ hygromycin, 500 mg l⁻¹ cefotaxime after 8 weeks. Shoots were regenerated following transfer of the resistant calli to shoot induction medium containing 0.2 mg l⁻¹ BA, 50 mg l⁻¹ hygromycin, and 250 mg l⁻¹ cefotaxime, and about 46% of the resistant calli differentiated into shoots. Finally, all the resistant shoots were rooted on 1/2 MS media supplemented with 50 mg l⁻¹ hygromycin, 250 mg l⁻¹ cefotaxime. The transgenic nature of the transformants was demonstrated by the detection of β-glucuronidase activity in the primary transformants and by PCR and Southern hybridization analysis. About 5% of the total inoculated callus explants produced transgenic plants after approximately 5 months. The procedure described will be useful for both, the introduction of desired genes into Z. tenuifolia and the molecular analysis of gene function.     

Genetic transformation and overexpression of a rice <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hd3a</Emphasis> induces early flowering in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saussurea involucrata</Emphasis> Kar. et Kir. ex Maxim

Saussurea involucrata is a valuable traditional Chinese medicinal herb. This is the first report of a successful genetic transformation protocol for S. involucrata using Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Leaf explants were incubated with A. tumefaciens strain EHA105 harboring the binary vector pCAMBIA 1301, which contains the hpt gene as a selectable marker for hygromycin resistance and an intron-containing β-glucuronidase gene as a reporter gene. Following co-cultivation, about 23.7% of the explants produced hygromycin-resistant calli on MS basal medium (Murashige and Skoog in Physiol Plant 15: 473–497, 1962) supplemented with 1 mg l⁻¹ benzyladenine (BA), 0.1 mg l⁻¹ α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), 0.1 mg l⁻¹ 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 20 mg l⁻¹ hygromycin, and 500 mg l⁻¹ cefotaxime. Shoots were regenerated following transfer of the resistant calli to shoot induction medium containing 1.5 mg l⁻¹ BA, 0.1 mg l⁻¹ NAA, 0.25 mg l⁻¹ gibberellic acid (GA3), 20 mg l⁻¹ hygromycin, and 250 mg l⁻¹ cefotaxime, and about 67.5% of the resistant calli differentiated into shoots. Finally, 80% of the hygromycin-resistant shoots rooted on MS media supplemented with 0.2 mg l⁻¹ NAA, 20 mg l⁻¹ hygromycin, and 250 mg l⁻¹ cefotaxime. The transgenic nature of the transformants was demonstrated by detection of β-glucuronidase activity in the primary transformants and by Southern blot hybridization analysis. About 16% of the total inoculated leaf explants produced transgenic plants after approximately 5 months. Using this optimized transformation system, a rice ortholog of the Arabidopsis FLOWERING LOCUS T gene, Hd3a, was transferred into S. involucrata. Introduction of this gene caused an early-flowering phenotype in S. involucrata.     

Shoot regeneration and free-radical scavenging activity in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Silybum marianum</Emphasis> L.

The morphogenic potential and free-radical scavenging activity of the medicinal plant, Silybum marianum L. (milk thistle) were investigated. Callus development and shoot organogenesis were induced from leaf explants of wild-grown plants incubated on media supplemented with different plant growth regulators (PGRs). The highest frequency of callus induction was observed on explants incubated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 5.0 mg l⁻¹ 6-benzyladenine (BA) after 20 days of culture. Subsequent transfer of callogenic explants onto MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg l⁻¹ gibberellic acid (GA₃) and 1.0 mg l⁻¹ α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) resulted in 25.5 ± 2.0 shoots per culture flask after 30 days following culture. Moreover, when shoots were transferred to an elongation medium, the longest shoots were observed on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg l⁻¹ BA and 1.0 mg l⁻¹ NAA, and these shoots were rooted on a PGR-free MS basal medium. Assay of antioxidant activity of in vitro and in vivo grown tissues revealed that significantly higher antioxidant activity was observed in callus than all other regenerated tissues and wild-grown plants.     

Efficient regeneration and antioxidant potential in regenerated tissues of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Piper nigrum</Emphasis> L.

The organogenic potential and antioxidant potential (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl-scavenging activity) of the medicinal plant Piper nigrum L. (black pepper) were investigated. Callus induction and shoot regeneration were induced from leaf explants of potted plants cultured on MS medium supplemented with different plant growth regulators. The best callogenic response was observed on explants cultured for 30 days on MS medium supplemented with either 0.5 or 1.5 mg l⁻¹ 6-benzyladenine (BA) + 1.0 mg l⁻¹ α-naphthaleneacetic acid. Subsequent transfer of the callogenic explants onto MS medium supplemented with 1.5 mg l⁻¹ BA + 1.0 mg l⁻¹ gibberellic acid (GA₃) achieved 85% shoot organogenesis after 30 days of culture. The maximum number (7.2) of shoots/explant was recorded for explants cultured in MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg l⁻¹ BA. Following the transfer of shoots to an elongation medium, the longest shoots (5.4 cm) were observed on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg l⁻¹ BA + 1.0 mg l⁻¹ GA₃. The elongated shoots were rooted on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of indole butyric acid. An assay of the antioxidant potential of the in vitro-grown tissues revealed that the antioxidant activity of the regenerated shoots was significantly higher than that of callus and the regenerated plantlets.     

Plant regeneration of the mining ecotype <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sedum alfredii</Emphasis> and cadmium hyperaccumulation in regenerated plants

An efficient micropropagation system for mining ecotype Sedum alfredii Hance, a newly identified Zn/Cd hyperaccumulator, was developed. Frequency of callus induction reached up to 70% from leaves incubated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1.0 mg l⁻¹ 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) and 0.5 mg l⁻¹ 6-benzyladenine (BA), and 83% from internodal stem segments grown on MS medium with 0.1 mg l⁻¹ 2,4-D and 0.1 mg l⁻¹ BA. Callus proliferated rapidly on MS medium containing 0.2 mg l⁻¹ 2,4-D and 0.05 mg l⁻¹ thidiazuron. The highest number of adventitious buds per callus (17.3) and frequency of shoot regeneration (93%) were obtained when calli were grown on MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg l⁻¹ BA and 0.3 mg l⁻¹ α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). Elongation of shoots was achieved when these were incubated on MS medium containing 3.0 mg l⁻¹ gibberellic acid. Induction of roots was highest (21.4 roots per shoot) when shoots were transferred to MS medium containing 2.0 mg l⁻¹ indole 3-butyric acid rather than either indole 3-acetic acid or NAA. When these in vitro plants were acclimatized and transferred to the greenhouse, and grown in hydroponic solutions containing 200 μM cadmium (Cd), they exhibited high efficiency of Cd transport, from roots to shoots, and hyperaccumulation of Cd.     

Evaluation of key factors influencing <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis>-mediated transformation of somatic embryos of avocado (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Persea americana</Emphasis> Mill.)

Key factors influencing the efficiency of transformation of embryogenic cultures, induced from immature zygotic embryos, of avocado cv. ‘Duke 7’ were evaluated. Initially, the sensitivity of somatic embryos to the antibiotics kanamycin, used for selection, carbenicillin, cefotaxime and timentin, all used for elimination of Agrobacterium cells, were evaluated. Isolated globular somatic embryos were more sensitive to kanamycin than embryogenic masses, and 25 mg l⁻¹ kanamycin completely restricted callus proliferation. Cefotaxime at 500 mg l⁻¹ partially inhibited proliferation of embryogenic cultures, while both carbenicillin and timentin did not affect callus growth. For genetic transformation, somatic embryos were infected with A. tumefaciens containing the pBINUbiGUSint plasmid. After 2 days, the embryos were transferred to selection medium supplemented with 50 mg l⁻¹ kanamycin and 250 mg l⁻¹ timentin for 2 months. Then, kanamycin level was increased to 100 mg l⁻¹ for two additional months. The A. tumefaciens strain AGL1 yielded higher transformation rates, 6%, than EHA105 or LBA4404, 1.2%. The percentage of kanamycin resistant calli obtained was significantly influenced by the embryogenic line used as source of explants. Genetic transformation was confirmed by PCR and Southern blot analysis. A significant improvement in the germination rate was obtained when transgenic embryos were cultured in liquid MS medium with 4.44 μM BA and 2.89 μM GA₃ for 3 days in a roller drum and later transferred to the same medium gelled with 7 g l⁻¹ agar. Plants from five independent transgenic lines were acclimated and grown in the greenhouse, being phenotipically similar to control plants.     

Micropropagation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus massoniana</Emphasis> and mycorrhiza formation in vitro

A protocol was developed for the micropropagation of Pinus massoniana and mycorrhiza formation on rooted microshoots. Seedling explants were first cultured on Gresshoff and Doy (GD) medium supplemented with 6-benzyladenine (BA) alone or in combination with α-napthaleneacetic acid (NAA) to stimulate the formation of intercotyledonary axillary buds. The frequency of axillary bud induction was up to 97% on medium supplemented with 4.0 mg l⁻¹ BA and 0. 2 mg l⁻¹ NAA, and the average number of buds per explant reached up to 5.5 on medium with 4.0 mg l⁻¹ BA and 0.1 mg l⁻¹ NAA. Axillary buds elongated rapidly after being transferred to half-strength GD medium containing activated charcoal (0.1% w/v). Shoot proliferation was achieved by cutting elongated shoots into stem segments and subculturing on GD medium containing 2 mg l⁻¹ BA and 0.2 mg l⁻¹ NAA. Root primordia were induced in 82% of shoots when transferred to half-strength GD medium containing 0.2 mg l⁻¹ NAA. Root elongation was achieved in a hormone-free GD agar medium or a perlite substrate. Rooted plantlets were inoculated with the mycelium of ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus tinctorius and the formation of ectomycorrhiza-like structures was achieved in vitro.