Enhancing the productivity of hybrid yellow-poplar and hybrid sweetgum embryogenic cultures

Summary High-frequency embryogenesis systems were established for hybrid yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera×L. chinense) and hybrid sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua×L. formosana) by modifying a medium originally developed for embryogenic yellow-poplar cultures. Embryogenic cultures of both hybrids, consisting of proembryogenic masses (PEMs), were initiated from immature hybrid seeds on an induction-maintenance medium (IMM) supplemented with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), benzyladenine (BA), and casein hydrolyzate (CH). For hybrid yellow-poplar, as many as 2100 germinable somatic embryos per 4000 cells or cell clumps were produced when PEMs were grown in liquid IMM lacking CH, at a pH that varied with genotype (3.5 or 5.6), followed by size fractionation and plating on semisolid embryo development medium (DM; IMM lacking 2,4-D and BA) without CH, but supplemented with 4.0 mgl⁻¹ (15 μM) abscisic acid. For hybrid sweetgum, up to 1650 germinable somatic embryos per 4000 cells or cell clumps were produced when PEMs were grown in liquid IMM without CH, but with 550 mgl⁻¹ l-glutamine, 510 mg l⁻¹ asparagine, and 170 mg l⁻¹ arginine at pH 5.6. Somatic embryos developed from cell clumps on DM without any plant growth regulators or other supplements. Hundreds of somatic embryos of both hybrids were germinated on DM without CH, transferred to potting mix, and hardened off in a humidifying chamber for transfer to the greenhouse.     

The influence of some inhibitors on the formation of caffeic acid in cultures ofPerilla cell suspensions

A cell suspension culture, prepared fromPerilla frutescens var.crispa callus induced by Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D, 1.0 ml/l) and kinetin (0.1 mg/l), contained caffeic acid derivatives as the phenolic components. Fresh and dry weights of the cells increased exponentially for about 11 days after transfer to a fresh medium. The contents of caffeic acid and protein also reached a maximum on the 11th day, but α-amino nitrogen phenylalanine and tyrosine continued to increase in amount until the 20th to 23rd day. Caffeic acid formation in the cells was increased by lowering the concentration of 2,4-D. The administration ofl-2-aminooxy-3-phenylpropionic acid (l-AOPP), 2-aminooxyacetic acid (AOA) andN-(phosphonomethyl)glycine (glyphosate) to the cells inhibited caffeic acid formation to a large extent. An 80% inhibition of caffeic acid formation was caused by 10⁻⁴Ml-AOPP whereas phenylalanine and tyrosine contents of the cells became 7.5 and 2.3 times higher at thisl-AOPP concentration than those in the control. An 85% inhibition of caffeic acid formation was achieved at 10⁻³M glyphosate concentration, while 10⁻³M AOA inhibited caffeic acid formation by 95% and also growth rate by 80%. The influence of inhibitors on caffeic acid formation is discussed in relation to the level of α-amino nitrogen, particularly aromatic amino acids, in the cell suspension cultures.     

Improvement of somatic embryogenesis in highland-papaya cell suspensions

Axillary buds (2 mm) from 3-year-old Carica pubescens Lenné et Koch (highland papaya) fruit-bearing plants grown in the greenhouse were cultivated in NN-medium supplemented with different growth regulators naphthaleneacetic acid and indoleacetic acid in combination with Zeatin, benzyladenine, Kinetin and thidiazuron. Several responses were observed within 2–3 months; namely, sprouting of the preformed axillary buds, bud branching into multiple shoots, callus formation at the basal end of the explant and somatic embryogenesis in the preformed callus. Somatic embryogenesis was frequent in most of the tested growth regulator combinations, with the exception of thidiazuron which showed no effect. A much higher yield of somatic embryos could be obtained in suspensions. Somatic embryogenesis was enhanced by the occurence of adventive embryogenesis on single embryos as globular embryo clusters. This was observed in cell suspensions initially grown in a WPM-medium with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, or in combination with benzyladenine or zeatin, for 6 days, then maintained in a growth regulator-free medium under continuous agitation (50 RPM) on an orbital shaker for 3 months. Single cells grown in the absence of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid did not initiate embryogenesis and de-differentiated into callus. Plantlets were recovered after transfer of mature embryos from cell suspensions into Magenta flasks. In a second subculture, adventitious embryogenesis occurred spontaneously in clusters at the globular embryo stage under the same growth conditions, yielding a high number of embryos. The culture conditions described above allowed initiation of a large number of somatic embryos directly from cell suspensions through adventive somatic embryogenesis and indirectly from callus on axillary buds.Abbreviations 2,4-d dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - CH casein enzymatic hydrolysate - BA benzyladenine - FAA formalin:acetic acid:alcohol - Glu l-glutamine - IAA indoleacetic acid - NAA naphthaleneacetic acid - NN Nitsch and Nitsch-medium (1969) - TDZ thidiazuron - SD standard deviation     

Bioreactor studies of the effect of medium pH on carrot (Daucus carota L.) somatic embryogenesis

Daucus carota cell differentiation was examined under different medium pH conditions in a controlled bioreactor. Somatic embryogenesis was affected by pH changes. Embryo production was greatest when the pH of the hormone-free medium was maintained at 4.3. However, the same level was not favourable to development since most embryos did not progress to the torpedo and plantlet stages. In contrast, although there was about a threefold decrease in embryo yield in cultures on the same free 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid medium maintained at pH 5.8, cells differentiated into fully developed plantlets. Changes in embryo development appeared to be associated with alterations in ammonium loss from the medium and sugar uptake.Abbreviation 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid     

Physiologische Untersuchungen an einer ungewöhnlich säureresistenten Chlorella

Summary The influence of the hydrogen-ion concentration on the growth and metabolism of a highly acid-resistant green alga, Chlorella ellipsoidea (strain Marburg St), was studied. Chlorella pyrenoidosa (Emerson strain) served as a normal control organism. Growth of Chlorella ellipsoidea occurs in the entire range from Ph 2.0 to Ph 10, whereas for Chlorella pyrenoidosa the limits were found to be Ph 3.5 and Ph 10. Respiration is much less sensitive to hydrogen-ion concentration in the acid-resistant as compared to the normal strain. Thus an increase in acidity from Ph 4.0 to Ph 2.0 increases the respiratory oxygen uptake by 120% in Chlorella pyrenoidosa and by 25% in Chlorella ellipsoidea. In addition, only the less resistant Chlorella pyrenoidosa shows an accumulation of nitrite in the dark in acid culture media, indicating a disturbance of the normal course of nitrate reduction under these conditions. On the other hand, the rate of photosynthesis of both organisms was found to be almost independent of acidity between Ph 4.0 and Ph 2.0. At the acid and alkaline limits of growth in both algae, an inhibition of cell division leads to an increase of cell size and dry weight per cell, frequently connected with the occurrence of bizarre giant cells. — In addition, adaptation phenomena were found to play a role in determining the acid limit of growth. Cells of Chlorella ellipsoidea, after inoculation from normal medium (Ph about 6) into a solution of Ph 2.0, begin growth at a high rate only after a lag of about two weeks. Cells grown previously in an acid medium, however, immediately resume growth upon inoculation into a medium of Ph 2.0. This adaptation involves a considerable reduction of cell size.     

Synthesis of extracellular proteins in embryogenic and non-embryogenic cell cultures of alfalfa

Extracellular proteins, released into the culture medium from alfalfa cells grown in embryogenic and non-embryogenic conditions, were ³⁵S-methionine labelled at different days of culture. SDS-PAGE analysis showed significant differences between the patterns of extracellular proteins secreted into the medium devoid of 2,4-d, in which cells formed somatic embryos, or in presence of 2,4-d, in which undifferentiated cell proliferation took place. Some proteins, evident in 2,4-d-supplied cultures, disappeared when cells were subcultured in the embryogenic conditions. Western analysis with antibodies against the carrot extracellular proteins EP1 and EP2 showed the presence of homologous alfalfa proteins. In 2,4-d depleted alfalfa cells, an EP1-like protein disappeared and another one was reduced, while the presence of the EP2-like protein was, in the same conditions, strongly enhanced.Abbreviations 2,4-d 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - EP extracellular proteins - ns-LTP non specific lipid transfer protein - SDS-PAGE Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrilamide gel electrophoresis     

Occurrence of L-DOPA and dopamine in plants and cell cultures ofMucuna pruriens and effects of 2,4-d and NaCl on these compounds

The development of the L-DOPA-content of roots, stems and leaves ofMucuna pruriens during growth of the plants is described. Besides L-DOPA, the leaves, but not the stems and the roots, also contain the related catechol dopamine. The time course of dopamine accumulation is compared to that of L-DOPA. In cell suspension cultures ofM. pruriens dopamine can be detected as well. Its level is strongly increased by addition of the growth regulator 2,4-d to the medium, a condition that suppresses cell growth and L-DOPA-accumulation. Dopamine induction appears to be a specific metabolic effect of 2,4-d. Salt stress, as caused by the addition of NaCl, gives no induction of dopamine formation, whereas L-DOPA is released into the medium.     

Bioreactor studies on the effect of dissolved oxygen concentrations on growth and differentiation of carrot (Daucus carota L.) cell cultures

A bioreactor control system was used to investigate the effects of two dissolved oxygen concentrations (10% and 100%) on the growth and differentiation of Daucus carota L. cell cultures. The strategy used allowed the dissolved oxygen concentration to be controlled without the need for changing either the agitator speed or the total gas flow rate. During the proliferation phase, reducing oxygen resulted in a lower growth rate and in a delay in sugar uptake kinetics. Nonetheless, varying levels of oxygen were observed to have no effect on the final dry biomass. The higher alcohol dehydrogenase activity obtained under reduced oxygen conditions suggests that proliferating cultures adapted to the hypoxic environment by inducing alcoholic fermentation. Cell differentiation was highly sensitive to reduced oxygen since under this condition, the somatic embryo production was inhibited by about 75%. Sugar uptake and embryo formation were also delayed.Abbreviations ADH alcohol dehydrogenase - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - DO2 dissolved oxygen - SE somatic embryos - Tris tris(hydroxymethyl)-aminoethane     

Plant regeneration through somatic embryogenesis in protoplast cultures of sandalwood (Santalum album L.)

Summary Protoplasts were isolated from embryogenic cell suspension cultures derived from proliferating shoot segments of a 20-year-old sandalwood tree (Santalum album Linn.). Under appropriate conditions, isolated protoplasts divided in liquid culture medium and produced embryogenic cell aggregates and globular embryos. Plating of cell aggregates on a fresh medium facilitated the differentiation of somatic emryos which further developed into plantlets.Abbreviations BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - GA₃ Gibberellic acid - IAA indoleacetic acid - IBA indolebutrytic acid - MES 2-(N-morpholino)ethane sulfonic acid - MS Murashige and Skoog's medium as modified in the text     

Paclitaxel production in suspension cell cultures of Taxus

Five separate cell lines, three of Taxus canadensis Marsh. and two of Taxus cuspidata Sieb. et Zucc., were used to test the effect of carbohydrates and plant growth regulators on the growth of cells and production of paclitaxel in culture. There was no significant correlation between growth of cells and paclitaxel production. While no single medium was developed that was optimal for all cell lines, it was possible to develop a medium for each species that represented a superior combination of growth and paclitaxel production. A combination of NAA and thidiazuron produced the best combination of growth and paclitaxel production in cell lines of T. canadensis, while IAA and BA produced the best results in cell lines of T. cuspidata. A mixture of sucrose and fructose gave the best combination of growth and paclitaxel production. The addition of carbohydrates midway through the growth cycle increased the rate at which paclitaxel accumulated in the culture medium. The highest paclitaxel concentration obtained was 14.78±0.86 mg 1^–1 (n=3).Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - 2ip 6-(,-dimethylamino)-purine - BA 6-benzyladenine - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - IBA indole-3-butyric acid - kinetin 6-furfurylaminopurine - NAA -napthaleneacetic acid - picloram 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid - thidiazuron 1-phenyl-3 (1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-yl)urea     

Enzymes of arginine utilization and their formation in Aeromonas formicans NCIB 9232

In Aeromonas formicans two inducible catabolic pathways of L-arginine have been characterized. The arginine decarboxylase is induced by arginine which also induces the three enzymes of the arginine deiminase pathway but only in stress conditions such as a shift from aerobic growth conditions to very low oxygen tension. Addition of glucose to medium containing arginine leads to repression of the enzymes involved in the arginine deiminase pathway while exogenous cAMP prevents that repression of enzyme synthesis by glucose. This suggests that the induction of arginine deiminase pathway is regulated by carbon catabolite repression and the energetic state of the cell.     

Plant regeneration from mesophyll protoplasts of Lactuca perennis

Cultured protoplasts of young, unexpanded leaves of the wild lettuce, Lactuca perennis, divided to produce cell colonies in an agarose-solidified, modified MS medium with reduced levels of inorganic salts, together with 2,4-d, NAA and zeatin at 0.2, 0.1 and 0.5 mg 1^-1 respectively. Organogenesis followed the initial transfer of protoplastderived colonies to modified MS medium with 2,4-d, NAA and zeatin (0.1, 1.0 and 0.2 mg 1^-1 respectively) and then to full-strength MS medium with 6-BA and NAA (0.4 and 0.05 mg 1^-1). Shoots were rooted on agar-solidified MS medium lacking growth regulators. Regenerated shoots were established ex vitro, 21 weeks after protoplast isolation.Abbreviations 6-BA 6-benzyladenine - BSA bovine serum albumin - d days - 2.4-d 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - f. wt. fresh weight - IAA indoleacetic acid - MES 2 [N-morpholino]ethane sulphonic acid - MS Murashige & Skoog (1962)     

Accumulation of organic acids in cultivations of Neisseria meningitidis C

Aiming at the industrial production of serogroup C meningococcal vaccine, different experimental protocols were tested to cultivate Neisseria meningitidis C and to investigate the related organic acid release. Correlations were established between specific rates of acetic acid and lactic acid accumulation and specific growth rate, during cultivations carried out on the Frantz medium in a 13 l bioreactor at 35°C, 0.5 atm, 400 rpm and air flowrate of 2 l min⁻¹. A first set of nine batch runs was carried out: (1) with control of dissolved oxygen (O₂) at 10% of its saturation point, (2) with control of pH at 6.5, and (3) without any control, respectively. Additional fed-batch or partial fed-batch cultivations were performed without dissolved O₂ control, varying glucose concentration from 1.0 to 3.0 g l⁻¹, nine of which without pH control and other two with pH control at 6.5. No significant organic acid level was detected with dissolved O₂ control, whereas acetic acid formation appeared to depend on biomass growth either in the absence of any pH and dissolved O₂ control or when the pH was kept at 6.5. Under these last conditions, lactic acid was released as well, but it did not seem to be associated to biomass growth. A survey of possible metabolic causes of this behavior suggested that N. meningitidis may employ different metabolic pathways for the carbon source uptake depending on the cultivation conditions.     

Effects of plant growth regulators on acetylene-reducing associations between Azospirillum brasilense and wheat

Treatment of wheat seedlings with the synthetic auxin, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-d), induced nodule-like structures or tumours (termed para-nodules) where lateral roots would normally emerge. The formation of these structures promoted increased rates of acetylene reduction at reduced oxygen pressure (0.02–0.04 atm) in seedling inoculated with Azospirillum brasilense, compared to seedlings inoculated without auxin treatment. Fluorescent microscopy, laser scanning confocal microscopy and direct bacterial counts all showed that the 2,4-d treatment stimulated internal colonization of the root system with azospirilla, particularly in the basal region of the nodular structures. Both colonization with azospirilla and acetylene-reducing activity were further stimulated by simultaneous treatment with another synthetic auxin, naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and, less reliably, with indoleacetic acid (IAA) and indolebutyric acid (IBA). These auxins produced shortening of many initiated lateral roots, although 20 times the concentration of NAA was required to achieve rounded structures similar to those obtained with 2,4-d. Treatment with NAA, IAA or IBA alone also stimulated colonization with azospirilla and acetylene reduction rates at 0.02 atm oxygen, but less effectively than by treatment with 2,4-d. Such exogenous treatments of wheat seedlings with synthetic growth regulators provide an effective laboratory model for studies on the development of a N₂-fixing system in cereals.     

Inhibitory effect of ethanol on growth and solute accumulation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae as affected by plasma-membrane lipid composition

Incorporation of ethanol (1.0 or 1.25 M) into exponential-phase cultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCYC 366 growing anaerobically in a medium supplemented with ergosterol and an unsaturated fatty acid caused a retardation in growth rate, which was greater when the medium contained oleic rather than linoleic acid. Ethanol incorporation led to an immediate drop in growth rate, and ethanol-containing cultures grew at the slower rate for at least 10 h. Incorporation of ethanol (0.5 M) into buffered (pH 4.5) cell suspensions containing d-[6-³H] glucose, d-[1-¹⁴C] glucosamine, l-[U-¹⁴C] lysine or arginine, or KH₂ ³²PO₄ lowered the rate of solute accumulation by cells. Rates of accumulation of glucose, lysine and arginine were retarded to a greater extent when cells had been grown in the presence of oleic rather than linoleic acid. This difference was not observed with accumulation of phosphate. Ethanol was extracted from exponential-phase cells by four different methods. Cells grown in the presence of linoleic acid contained a slightly, but consistently, lower concentration of ethanol than cells grown in oleic acid-containing medium. The ethanol concentration in cells was 5–7 times greater than that in the cell-free medium.     

Repetitive somatic embryogenesis in peanut cotyledon cultures by continual exposure to 2,4-d

Somatic embryos from immature cotyledons in peanut (Arachis hypogaea) were initiated on media supplemented with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-d). Over 90% primary embryogenesis and 41–46% repetitive embryogenesis were obtained 12 weeks after initiation by maintaining embryogenic cultures on medium containing 20 mg 1^-1 2,4-d. Maintenance of cultures on medium with 30 or 40 mg I^-1 2,4-d resulted in lower primary and secondary embryogenesis, and proliferation of nonembryogenic callus. Transfer of embryogenic cultures to a secondary medium with 10 or 20 mg I^-1 2,4-d significantly enhanced secondary embryogenesis compared to basal medium without the growth regulator. The use of Murashige & Skoog versus Finer's media had no significant effect on embryogenesis (85–95%), repetitive embryogenesis (11–37%) or mean embryo number. Secondary embryogenesis was also maintained for over one year by repeated subculture of isolated somatic embryos on medium with 20 mg I^-1 2,4-d.Abbreviations B5 Gamborg et al. medium (Gamborg et al. 1968) - 2,4-d 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - FN Finer & Nagasawa medium (Finer & Nagasawa 1968) - MS Murashige & Skoog medium (Murashige & Skoog 1962)     

Increase of embryogenic callus formation in cucumber by initial culture on high concentration of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) leaf explants were cultured either continuously on standard medium containing 4.5 µM 2,4- dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-d) and 4.4 µM benzylaminopurine, or first cultured for various periods at different levels of 2,4-d, picloram or naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), and then transferred to standard medium. When cultured continuously on standard medium, less than 10% of the explants formed embryogenic callus. Initial culture on picloram or NAA, or on 2,4-d at a low concentration (1.4 µM) did not result in any embryogenic callus formation. Embryogenic callus formation increased to 40% if during the initial phase of the culture (10 days), the 2,4-d concentration was raised to 14 µM. Prolonged culture on 14 µM 2,4-d resulted in less embryogenic callus formation.Abbreviations BA benzylaminopurine - 2,4-d 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - NAA naphthaleneacetic acid     

Transgenic periwinkle tissues overproducing cytokinins do not accumulate enhanced levels of indole alkaloids

Cytokinins play a critical role in several aspects of plant growth, metabolism and development. We previously reported that adding cytokinins to the culture medium of a suspension-cultured cell line of periwinkle increased the accumulation of indole alkaloids, and our aim was to compare the effect of exogenously-applied cytokinins with that of elevated levels of endogenous cytokinins on indole alkaloid production. We used an Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain yielding a plasmid with the isopentenyl transferase gene under control of its own promoter. Co-culture of suspension cells with the bacteria caused a severe stress response leading to cell necrosis. Therefore, we failed to transform this material but we succeeded in transforming periwinkle cotyledons. We verified that callus cultures generated from the isopentenyl transferase-transgenic cotyledons accumulated high cytokinin concentrations. Treating normal callus cultures (generated from untransformed cotyledons) with cytokinins enhanced their alkaloid production. By contrast, the enhanced concentration of endogenous cytokinins in transgenic calli did not increase indole alkaloid production, and thus did not mimic the effect of exogenously-applied cytokinins. Hypothesis to explain this discrepancy are discussed.Abbreviations 2,4-d 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - DW dry cell mass - ipt isopentenyl transferase gene     

Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from isolated protoplasts of Lavatera thuringiaca

Embryogenic cell suspensions of Lavatera thuringiaca L. were established from leaf petiole and shoot regeneration was achieved when cells were plated on medium without growth regulators. We tested three methods for protoplast culture, isolated from a one-year old embryogenic cell suspension, to determine the best conditions for L. thuringiaca protoplast culture and shoot regeneration. The highest protoplast plating efficiency was obtained with the agaroseembedded method, reaching 30%, while the nursing culture method gave 5% when the protoplasts were plated over Whatman paper No. 2. However, the same nursing culture failed to produce protoplast-derived microcalluses when the protoplasts were plated on a nitrocellulose filter. The liquid thin layer method gave the lowest plating efficiency with only 0.5%. Shoot regeneration from protoplast-derived microcalluses was achieved in two steps; first, globular embryo development was favored in medium low in auxin (2,4-d and BA at 0.01 and 0.05 mg 1^-1, respectively), second, the globular embryos further differentiate into shoots in medium without growth regulators or in medium containing GA₃ (0.5 to 1.0 mg 1^-1).Abbreviations 2,4-d 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - BA benzyladenine - GA₃ gibberellic acid - NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid - IBA indole-3-butyric acid     

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