Further evidence of a role for abscisic acid in conversion of somatic embryos ofDaucus carota

Summary Somatic embryogenesis has been shown to be an imperfect recapitulation of stages involved to form embryos from vegetative tissues. Although abscisic acid has been implicated in normalizing development, studies that specifically investigate conversion (vegetative leaf initiation) in somatic embryos are lacking. This report documents a follow-up of a study that implicated abscisic acid as a vital factor in allowing embryos ofDaucus carota to progress to the plantlet stage. Abscisic acid was determined to enhance conversion at doses ranging from 1 to 50 µM. Younger embryo stages were more responsive to abscisic acid application with regards to plantlet recovery. Pulses of abscisic acid were shown to elicit more rapid response with younger embryo stages, indicating more plastic development. Fluridone, an abscisic acid synthesis inhibitor, was shown to dramatically reduce conversion, even at low doses (<5µM). When abscisic acid was applied concurrently with fluridone, partial restoration of conversion was observed. Histologically, fluridone was seen to cause pronounced vacuolation in the shoot apical notch which resulted in the loss of meristematic cells, negating conversion capacity. Quantitation of total cytoplasmic area showed that abscisic acid reduced vacuolar intrusion into the apical notch, while fluridone caused a significant increase in vacuolation of cells in this region. This report documents further evidence of a role for abscisic acid in plantlet establishment from somatic embryos ofDaucus carota.     

Water status of callus from Hevea brasiliensis during induction of somatic embryogenesis

To improve somatic embryogenesis in Hevea brasiliensis , the water and plant growth regulator status of the culture medium was studied. Induction of embryogenic tissue from the internal integument of immature seeds was clearly favored by stabilizing the water potential of the culture medium at –0.7 MPa, by using low and decreasing concentrations of 3,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and benzyladenine or by incorporating 10^-7 M abscisic acid in the medium. Each of these changes in the medium favored a specific water status in the callus, namely a high relative water content (93 to 95%) and an elevated water potential (–0.9 MPa). These characteristics were apparently important for initiating somatic embryogenesis, and their decrease corresponded to the loss of embryogenic potential in the callus. Thus, the relative water content and water potential of callus appear to be good markers of its embryogenic state.     

Significance of the zygotic seed coat on quiescence and desiccation tolerance of Medicago sativa L. somatic embryos

Summary The influence of the zygotic seed coat on precocious germination and desiccation tolerance of somatic embryos has been studied using alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). When cultured in contact with somatic embryos, seed coats at certain developmental stages inhibited precocious germination and induced desiccation tolerance in the somatic embryos. Germination of somatic embryos was inhibited by seed coats at the age of 16–26 days after pollination (DAP) and desiccation tolerance was induced after 20–26 DAP. Both phenomena were related to the synthesis of abscisic acid in the seed coat. The absence of a quiescent phase and desiccation tolerance in alfalfa somatic embryos may be related to the lack of developmental control by the seed coat.Abbreviations ABA Abscisic acid - DAP Days after pollination     

Morphology of carrot somatic embryos formed in medium with abscisic acid

Somatic embryogenesis was induced from embryogenie cells derived from cotyledon expiants cultured on MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/L 2,4-D. In order to clarify the effect of abscisic acid (ABA) on the morphology of somatic embryos, embryogénie cell clumps or developing somatic embryos were treated continuously, or briefly, with ABA during culture. When embryogenie cells in MS medium without 2,4-D were treated with 0.04 mg/L ABA for the first week, normal embryos with two cotyledons increased slightly and embryos with anomalous cotyledons decreased. However when cell clumps in 2,4-D-free medium were treated with ABA in the second week normal embryos with two cotyledons decreased prominently and this decrease of normal embryos also occurred in the continuous ABA treatment during culture. Thus the morphological abnormalities in somatic embryogenesis occurred by exogenous ABA treatment beyond globular stage or by continuous treatment. The length of somatic embryos with anomalous cotyledons was larger than that of normal embryos with two cotyledons in control but both the normal and anomalous somatic embryos treated with ABA were almost similar in length. Somatic embryos formed in medium with ABA were larger in size than those in control due mainly to enlarged cotyledons. The enlarged cotyledons were composed of a greater number of cells than those of control. Therefore the enlargement of cotyledon by exogenous ABA seems to be not due to the enlargement of cells in cotyledons.     

Desiccation decreases abscisic acid content in hybrid larch (Larix X leptoeuropaea) somatic embryos

Previous studies indicated that the high endogenous abscisic acid (ABA) content of hybrid larch ( Larix X leptoeuropaea ) somatic embryos was correlated with low germination frequency. However, when dried, the germination rate of the somatic embryos improved. Therefore, our present objective was to study the effect of desiccation on the levels of ABA and its glucose ester metabolite. Cotyledonary somatic embryos were subjected to drying treatments at 4⁰C under relative humidities of 98 and 59% for one week and the levels of both ABA and abscisic acid glucose ester (ABAGE) were followed by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). During desiccation at 98% relative humidity (RH) both ABA and ABAGE levels decreased in an irregular fashion. Regardless of RH, transient increases in ABA were observed that were paralleled by marked decreases in ABAGE. It is concluded that the desiccation of somatic embryos which leads to a decrease in ABA content, could explain the enhanced germination capacity of such embryos.     

Influence of atmospheric gases,particularly ethylene,on somatic embryogenesis of Hevea brasiliensis

The atmosphere of the culture vessel is an important factor for successful somatic embryogenesis in Hevea brasiliensis (Müll. Arg.). Considerable release of carbon dioxide and ethylene occurred during the development of calli. By avoiding the accumulation of gas, unconfined conditions were the most favourable for inducing somatic embryogenesis. Trapping of ethylene was as favourable for calli development and for somatic embryogenesis as unconfined conditions. Inhibition of ethylene synthesis by the adding of aminooxyacetic acid to the medium, also favoured the embryogenic process, and inhibition of ethylene action by the adding of silver nitrate to the medium enhanced significantly embryo production.Abbreviations ACC 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid - AOA amino-oxyacetic acid     

Effect of abscisic acid and cytokinins on cultured zygotic embryos of Coffea arabicacv.Cauvery (Catimor)

Immature zygotic embryos of Coffea arabica L.cv.Cauvery (Catimor) were sequentially cultured on different modifications of Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium to test the effect of abscisic acid and cytokinins. The type of response depended on the medium strength, the growth regulator combinations as well as the period of initial culture in both abscisic acid or cytokinin supplemented media. Increasing concentration of abscisic acid from 0.4 to 18.9 M enhanced the quiescence of the zygotic embryos. All the cytokinins promoted germination but Kinetin and isopentenyladenine (2-IP) were less effective than benzyl amino purine (BAP). The maximum mature embryos were obtained when immature embryos were cultured initially for 30 days on full strength MS medium with 3.8 M ABA, followed by 60 days on half strength MS medium with 0.1 M BAP and finally on half strength MS media with out growth regulator for next 60 days.     

Manipulating the desiccation tolerance and vigor of dry somatic embryos of Medicago sativa L. with sucrose,heat shock and abscisic acid

Summary The effects of sucrose concentration in the maturation medium in combination with a heat shock treatment at 36°C were investigated in an attempt to improve the vigor of seedlings grown from dry somatic embryos of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Callus was formed from petiole expiants and dispersed in liquid suspension medium in the presence of 5 M 2,4-D. The cell suspension was sieved to synchronize embryo development. The 200 – 500 m fraction was plated on embryo development medium without 2,4-D, grown for 14 days, and transferred to maturation medium. With 3% sucrose in the maturation medium, the somatic embryos germinated precociously and were unable to survive desiccation. At higher sucrose concentrations, germination was delayed and the embryos continued to accumulate dry matter. After 13 days on 6% sucrose medium (27 days after sieving), the somatic embryos were tolerant of drying to 12% moisture without exposure to exogenous ABA. Heat shock, which presumably stimulates endogenous ABA synthesis, improved the desiccation tolerance of somatic embryos if applied prior to day 27 after sieving, but its effects were minimal after day 27. High sucrose concentrations up to 9% in the maturation medium were optimal during the first 8 days on maturation medium (days 14 to 22 after sieving), but a lower concentration (6%) was optimal during the later stages of embryo maturation (days 22 to 30 after sieving). The inclusion of 10^–5 M ABA in the maturation medium with 6% sucrose further improved embryo quality if applied approximately 20 days after sieving.     

Control of hyperhydricity of mango somatic embryos

Hyperhydricity of immature somatic embryos has been a limiting factor for the development of highly embryogenic suspension cultures of many important mango cultivars. Reversion of hyperhydricity was achieved in two ways: 1) heart-stage somatic embryos (2–3 mm length) were partially dehydrated under controlled conditions at high relative humidity (RH) for 24–48 h and 2) the gelling agent (Gel-Gro) concentration of the plant growth medium was increased from 2.0 to 6.0 g l^-1. Partially dehydrated immature somatic embryos were normal in appearance. Somatic embryos that were partially dehydrated germinated precociously when cultured on maturation medium. Although abscisic acid (ABA) did not reverse hyperhydricity of primary somatic embryos, ABA did stimulate the reversal of this abnormal pattern of development among secondary embryos. ABA (500 M) inhibited precocious germination and permitted somatic embryo maturation. Partially dehydrated, immature somatic embryos (4–7 mm long) remained viable for up to 32 days in the absence of maturation medium under high RH.Abbreviations 2,4-d 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - ABA abscisic acid - BA 6-benzyladenine - RH relative humidity     

Effect of abscisic acid, osmolarity and partial desiccation on the development of recalcitrant mango somatic embryos

Inhibition of mango somatic embryo growth was inducedin vitro by treatments for 4 or more weeks with abscisic acid (0–100 M ABA) with and without high osmolarity provided by mannitol (0–10%). High osmolarity and ABA significantly affected somatic embryo length, precocious germination and the production of good quality secondary somatic embryos. High osmolarity also affected root elongation. Abscisic acid was more effective in suppressing growth and development of 0.5 cm-length somatic embryos than smaller somatic embryos. Development beyond the heart stage was significantly inhibited by both ABA and mannitol treatments. The recovery of good quality somatic embryos was enhanced by high levels of ABA (100 M) with and without mannitol (0–5%). Somatic embryos that had been pulsed with ABA were partially desiccated at different relative humidities. Weight loss was affected only by relative humidity; and ABA did not enhance desiccation tolerance.Abbreviations ABA Abscisic acid - 2,4-D 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - MM1 Mango maturation medium - RH Relative humidity     

Partial amino-acid sequence of ECP31, a carrot embryogenic-cell protein,and enhancement of its accumulation by abscisic acid in somatic embryos

ECP31, an embryogenic-cell protein from carrot (Daucus carota L.), was purified by sequential column-chromatographic steps and digested by V8 protease on a nitrocellulose membrane. The resultant peptides were separated by reverse-phased column chromatography and sequenced. The sequences obtained were 70–80% homologous to those of a late-embryogenesis-abundant protein (D34) from cotton (Baker et al, 1988, Plant Mol. Biol. 11, 227–291). The level of ECP31 in somatic embryos of carrot was increased by treatment of the embryos with 3.7 · 10^–6 M abscisic acid (ABA) for 48 h, and there was no change in this enhanced level for up to 192 h in the presence of ABA. No similar enhancing effect of ABA was observed on the level of ECP31 in embryogenic callus or segments of carrot hypocotyls. In an immunohistochemical analysis, ECP31 was found in epidermal tissue and in the vascular system of ABA-treated somatic embryos.Abbreviations ABA abscisic acid - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - LEA protein late-embryogenesis-abundant protein To whom correspondence should be addressedThis work was supported in part by a grant-in-aid for Special Research in Priority Areas (Project No. 02242102) from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Japan, and by Special Coordination Funds of the Science and Technology Agency of the Japanese Government.     

In vitro transient expression system of latex C-serum was used for analysis of hevein promoter in response to abscisic acid in Hevea brasiliensis

Hevein has been found to be an essential element in coagulation of rubber particles in latex of rubber trees. In a previous study, we cloned a 1 241-bp fragment of a 5＇ upstream region of the hevein gene by genome walking. This fragment was analyzed by a 5＇ end nested deletion method in the present study, fused with a uidA （gus） gene to produce a series of tested constructs, which were transferred into C-serum of latex and the Gus activities were detected. Results showed that the fragment from -749 to -292 was sufficient for expression of gus gene in latex, and the fragment from -292 to -168 was crucial in response to abscisic acid inducement. In a transient transgenic test of rubber leaf with particle bombardment, construct Hev749 conferred gus-specific expression in veins, in which the latex tubes mainly distributed. This implies that the fragment from -749 to -292 was laticiferous-specific.     

Induction,germination and shoot development of somatic embryos in cassava

Four Indonesian and two Latin-American cassava genotypes (Manihot esculenta Crantz), were evaluated for their ability to develop somatic embryos from young leaf lobes. All genotypes formed somatic embryos but they differed in the frequency of embryos induced. The best genotypes, M. Col 22 and Tjurug, produced germinating embryos (GE) on 81% (22.1 GE/initial leaf lobe) and 46% (4.3 GE/initial leaf lobe) of the cultured leaf lobes, respectively. Up to 57% of the germinating embryos of M. Col 22 and 12% of Tjurug produced either normal or malformed shoots. Most malformed shoots developed into shoots with normal morphology after prolonged culture. All shoots formed roots after transfer to medium without BAP. Roots of all normal and most malformed regenerants had the original ploidy level (2n=36). Regardless of whether the plants were multipliedin vitro (150 plants) or in the greenhouse (30 plants) there were no morphological differences compared to parent plants.     

High frequency plant regeneration from Aralia cordata somatic embryos

An efficient method of plant regeneration from Aralia cordatasomatic embryos was developed. Somatic embryos at early stages obtained through inflorescences–derived embryogenic cell suspension cultures were matured in liquid Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing various concentrations of abscisic acid (ABA). For plant regeneration, mature cotyledonary embryos were transferred to solid MS basal medium for 6 weeks. Plant regeneration frequency of the embryos matured from heart-shaped embryos was proportional to the concentration of ABA from 0.76 to 3.8 M. The highest frequency (60.7%) was obtained from 3.8 M ABA pretreatment. The survival rate of the plantlets after transfer to plastic pots containing vermiculite in the growth room was 90%. All plants transferred to soil in greenhouse survived. The results indicate that micropropagation procedure can be applied for an efficient mass propagation of Aralia cordata.     

橡胶树内珠被培养研究进展

橡胶树自根幼态无性系是20世纪70年代末培育的新型种植材料,集中了实生苗和芽接苗的优点,具有生长快、产量高、茎干圆锥度大的特点,极有可能取代芽接苗成为第3代种植材料.内珠被培养是获得自根幼态无性系的重要手段,可经初级体胚发生或持续体胚发生再生植株.初级体胚/微繁植株长势好、产量高,但再生频率低;持续体胚发生再生频率高,但体胚/微繁植株变异、感病、产量低.利用持续体胚发生体系进行了超低温保存和遗传转化研究,均取得了成功.     

Improvement of somatic embryogenesis in wild cherry (Prunus avium). Effect of maltose and ABA supplements

Three different types of morphogenesis were identified in embryogenic cultures of Prunus avium grown on a proliferation medium containing 0.54 μM NAA, 0.46 μM kinetin and 0.44 μM BA: a friable hyperhydric callus, repetitive embryogenesis and an embryogenic tissue. Translucent and white somatic embryos were produced from the three types of morphogenesis but mainly from the embryogenic tissue. These somatic embryos showed histological and cytological teratological features such as highly differentiated cells with shrunken cytoplasm and destructured nuclei. For the four lines studied, somatic embryo production was improved by transferring the embryogenic tissue to developmental media without auxin and cytokinin but supplemented with maltose alone or maltose and 10 μM ABA. Three weeks after transfer, the line showing the most embryogenesis produced 1404 somatic embryos per gram of embryogenic tissue. A concentration of 263 mM maltose significantly increased the number of white somatic embryos for L 10 line, while translucent somatic embryo production was improved by 88 mM maltose for L 16 line. The combination of maltose and ABA produced different effects with each line. When used with 88 mM maltose, 10 μM ABA significantly increased white somatic embryo production for two lines but decreased the production for one line. When combined with 263 mM maltose, ABA had no effect on white somatic embryo production but significantly decreased the number of translucent somatic embryos. Cells of white somatic embryos contained protein storage reserves and numerous lipid bodies, while those of translucent embryos did not contain storage reserves or lipid bodies. After a two-month cold treatment conversion rate of white and translucent somatic embryos reached 8.5% and 35.2% respectively. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of medium salt concentration on differentiation and maturation of somatic embryos of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)

Culture of cassava somatic embryos on media with an altered macro- and micro-nutrient salt concentration affected embryo development and germination capability. In the tests, quarter-, half-, full- or double-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) media were compared. The maximum number of somatic embryos differentiated from a proliferative nodular embryogenic callus (NEC) on either half- or full-strength MS medium, and the greatest numbers of cotyledonary stage embryos were formed on full-strength MS medium. Developed somatic embryos were then desiccated above a saturated K2SO4 solution for 10 d. After transfer to germination medium, embryos that had developed on half- and full-strength MS medium yielded 8.3 and 8.6 germinants g(-1) NEC tissue, respectively. For this important but often disregarded culture factor, either half- or full-strength MS medium is recommended for both the differentiation and development of cassava somatic embryos that are capable of germination.     

Possible involvement of abscisic acid in the induction of secondary somatic embryogenesis on seed-coat-derived carrot somatic embryos

When seed coats (pericarps) were picked from 14-day-old carrot (Daucus carota) seedlings and cultured on agar plates, embryogenic cell clusters were produced very rapidly at a high frequency on the open side edge. Embryo induction progressed without auxin treatment; indeed treatment caused the formation of non-embryogenic callus. The embryogenic tissues (primary embryos) developed normally until the torpedo stage; however, after this a number of secondary somatic embryos were produced in the hypocotyl and root regions. Tertiary embryos were formed on some of the secondary embryos, but many developed into normal plantlets. The primary embryos contained significantly higher levels of abscisic acid (ABA) than the hypocotyl-derived normal and seed-coat-derived secondary embryos. Fluridone inhibited the induction of secondary embryogenesis, while exogenously supplied ABA induced not only tertiary embryogenesis on the seed-coat-derived secondary embryos, but also secondary embryos on the hypocotyl-derived normal somatic embryos. These results indicate that ABA is one of the important endogenous factors for the induction of secondary embryogenesis on carrot somatic embryos. Higher levels of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in primary embryos also suggest the presence of some concerted effect of ABA and IAA on the induction of secondary embryogenesis in primary embryos.     

Compared root system architectures in seedlings and in vitro plantlets of Hevea brasiliensis,in the initial years of growth in the field

In vitro culture of Hevea was undertaken to propagate selected clones on their own roots. The challenge was to overcome the failure of cuttings due to the poor conformity of regenerated root systems. Trees of several juvenile or mature genotypes were propagated either by in vitro microcutting, or by somatic embryogenesis, and planted in the field. Certain static and dynamic components of the root system were observed at different growth stages, from 0 to 3 years, and compared to those of seedlings of the same age used in the trial as a reference. A simple method was designed for measuring the vigour and balance of the root system. The in vitro plantlets had a well-developed taproot and lateral root system, with an architecture similar to that of plants obtained from seed. Moreover, clear differences occurred between selected clones for the relative vigour of the tap roots, lateral roots and trunk. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A Novel abscisic acid metabolite from cell suspension cultures of Nigella damascena

The structure of a novel abscisic acid metabolite isolated from cell suspension cultures of Nigella damascena fed [2-¹⁴C]abscisic acid was iden