Image Processing and Artificial Neural Network-Based Models to Measure and Predict Physical Properties of Embryogenic Callus and Number of Somatic Embryos in Ajowan (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Trachyspermum ammi</Emphasis> (L.) Sprague)

Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague (Ajowan) is an endangered medicinal plant with useful pharmaceutical properties. Ex situ conservation of this medicinal plant needs the development of an in vitro regeneration protocol using somatic embryogenesis. In the present study, a high-precision image-processing approach was successfully applied to measure physical properties of embryogenic callus. Explant age and the concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), kinetin (Kin), and sucrose were used as inputs, and an artificial intelligence technique was applied to predict physical properties of embryogenic callus, and the number of somatic embryos produced. Artificial neural network (ANN) models were tested to find the best combinations of input variables that affected output variables. The lower values of root mean square error, and mean absolute error, and the highest values of determination coefficient, were achieved when all four input variables were applied to predict the number of somatic embryos, the area of the callus, the perimeter of the callus, the Feret diameter of the callus, the roundness of the callus, and the true density of the callus in ANN models. The highest measured and predicted number of somatic embryos were achieved from the interaction of 15-d-old explants?×?1.5 mg L^?1 2,4-D?×?0.5 mg L^?1 Kin?×?2.5% (w/v) sucrose. Based on sensitivity analysis, the 2,4-D concentration was the most important component in the culture medium that affected the number of somatic embryos and physical properties of the embryogenic callus tissue.     

The establishment of cell suspension culture of sabah snake grass (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Clinacanthus nutans</Emphasis> (Burm.F.) Lindau)

Clinacanthus nutans (Burm.F.) Lindau is an herbaceous plant that has long been used for traditional medicinal purposes in Asia. It has recently gained popularity as an alternative treatment for cancer. The aim of this study was to establish cell suspension cultures of C. nutans and to identify targeted bioactive compounds in the cultures. Young leaf explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with various combinations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and kinetin to identify a suitable medium for callus induction and proliferation. Proliferated, friable calluses were cultured in different combinations of plant growth regulators (2,4-D, naphthaleneacetic acid [NAA], picloram, kinetin, and 6-benzylaminopurine) in liquid medium to establish cell suspension cultures. Three cell lines of suspension culture, callus, and intact plant parts were subjected to ethyl acetate extraction followed by thin layer chromatography for identification of selected bioactive compounds. Medium supplemented with 0.25 mg L^?1 2,4-D and 0.75 mg L^?1 kinetin was found to be optimal for callus induction, whereas supplementation with 0.50 mg L^?1 2,4-D was efficient for callus proliferation. Liquid medium supplemented with 0.25 mg L^?1 2,4-D and 0.50 mg L^?1 NAA produced the highest growth index (2.52). Quercetin, catechin, and luteolin were present together in the callus and cell suspension cultures of C. nutans, but all three compounds were detected separately in young leaves, mature leaves, and stems. This study is the first to report the establishment of cell suspension culture of C. nutans with both cell and callus cultures producing quercetin, catechin, and luteolin.     

An efficient protocol for <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> regeneration and conservation of Shirui lily (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lilium mackliniae</Emphasis> Sealy): a lab-to-land approach to save the rare endangered Asiatic lily species

An efficient protocol for direct and indirect shoot regeneration and proliferation from bulb scales of Shirui lily (Lilium mackliniae Sealy), an endangered Asiatic lily species endemic to the Shirui hill peak, Manipur, India, has been developed. Bulb scales were isolated from mature bulbs and cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with different concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), kinetin (KIN), or thidiazuron (TDZ). For direct shoot regeneration from bulb scale explants, 0.5 mg L^?1 BAP yielded the highest shoot induction (3.5 shoots per scale; a 96.7% response). For indirect de novo organogenesis, optimum callus induction was achieved with 2.0 mg L^?1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), and shoot organogenesis was higher (16.2) when subcultured onto 0.5 mg L^?1 BAP medium. Multiple shoot regeneration and pseudo-bulb formation protocols were assessed; the highest shoot proliferation (10.1) occurred with 0.5 mg L^?1 BAP and 1.0 mg L^?1 gibberellic acid (GA₃). Rooting response was 96% with 0.5 mg L^?1 1-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), with multiple roots per shootlet. Plantlet survival was increased to 92.5% during the hardening-off process by using hydroponics with Hoagland’s solution in a mist chamber. Clonal fidelity was assessed through random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis comparing the mother plant and regenerated plantlets. After confirming genetic uniformity, the pseudo-bulblets with four to six leaves and three to four roots were successfully established at the Shirui hills peak. This in vitro regeneration and ex vitro conservation approach could be helpful to save this rare endangered species in a sustainable way.     

Plantlet formation via somatic embryogenesis and LC ESI Q-TOF MS determination of secondary metabolites in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Butea monosperma</Emphasis> (Lam.) Kuntze

Medicinal properties of Butea monosperma (BM) and overexploitation of bark as a rich source of flavonoids for different biological activities, development of efficient method for high frequency somatic embryos and in vitro synthesis of bioactive secondary metabolites using plant tissue culture technology is important. Initially, callus was induced from leaf explants of BM on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 0.25 mg L^?1 2,4-d-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-d) with 0.1 mg L^?1 kinetin (Kn) and ascorbic acid (AA). MS half strength macronutrients and full strength micronutrients containing 0.25 mg L^?1 2,4-d with 0.1 mg L^?1 Kn, and 0.5 mg L^?1 AA provided fragile callus with 84.0 ± 1.00 % optimal growth response. Shoot formation occurred via somatic embryogenesis through an intermediary callus phase. However, 2.1 mg L^?1 thidiazuron with 0.5 mg L^?1 AA provides high frequency (79.6 ± 2.02 %) of somatic embryogenesis within 5 weeks. Developed embryos when transferred to woody plant medium containing 0.5 mg L^?1 AA with 3.0 mg L^?1 Kn and 0.5 mg L^?1 α naphthalene acetic acid responded 44.0 ± 0.00 % embryo maturation, whereas 0.5 mg L^?1 Kn, 0.3 mg L^?1 indole-3-butyric acid, and 0.25 mg L^?1 AA induced rooting within 6 and 8 weeks, respectively. Liquid chromatography electro spray ionization quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (LC ESI Q-TOF MS) analysis of in vitro cultures showed similarity to those compounds identified in wild grown leaf samples known for osteogenic activity. Histological investigation through scanning electron microscopy demonstrates the developmental stages of somatic embryos, shoot bud formation, and induction of root primordial.     

Efficient somatic embryogenesis and bulblet regeneration of the endangered bulbous flower <Emphasis Type="Italic">Griffinia liboniana</Emphasis>

Using flower organs as primary explants and via somatic embryogenesis, we developed an efficient protocol for bulblet regeneration from in vitro-derived seedlings (bulblets) of Griffinia liboniana. Callus induction was tested on five types of floral organ (perianth, filament, pedicel, ovary and anther) in the presence of three combinations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA). Filament constituted the most responsive primary explant for regenerative callus induction, and the highest frequencies of callus induction (63.0?±?1.9%) and numbers of differentiated buds (3.7?±?0.3 buds/callus) were found on Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium (MS) supplemented with 1.0 mg L^?1 2,4-D and 1.0 mg L^?1 6-BA. Starting with in vitro-derived bulblets (0.8–1.5 cm in diameter), somatic embryo (SE) formation occurred within 6 weeks, followed by 8 weeks for SE germination and development on PGR-free media. The highest percentage (78.9?±?2.2%) of embryogenesis was obtained on MS media supplemented with 0.5 mg L^?1 6-BA and 1.5 mg L^?1 2,4-D, with an average of 28.0?±?2.1 bulblets/explant. Well-rooted bulblets were successfully acclimated to ex vitro conditions. A stable ploidy level of the regenerated bulblets was confirmed by flow cytometry (FCM) analysis. This is the first report about micropropagation methods of G. liboniana and constitutes an efficient and reusable method for bulblet regeneration of this endangered species. Additionally, this protocol enables large-scale vegetative production, germplasm preservation and genetic engineering of endangered Griffinia species.     

Micropropagation, <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> flowering,and tuberization in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brachystelma glabrum</Emphasis> Hook.f., an endemic species

Brachystelma glabrum Hook.f. is an endemic plant species of Eastern Ghats, India. In this study, efficient protocols for in vitro micropropagation, flowering, and tuberization of this plant were developed. Sterilized shoot tip and nodal explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different plant growth regulators (PGRs) and additives for shoot induction and multiplication. Both shoot tip and nodal explants showed the best response (90 and 100%, respectively) on MS medium supplemented with thidiazuron (TDZ) at 1.0 mg L^?1. The microshoots multiplied best on MS + TDZ (1.0 mg L^?1) in combination with α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) at 0.5 mg L^?1 and coconut water (CW) at 25%. The highest number of in vitro flowers (4.0 flowers per microshoot) was observed on MS medium supplemented with a combination of N6-benzyladenine (BA) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), each at 1.5 mg L^?1. In vitro-derived shoots produced aerial tubers on MS + TDZ (2.0 mg L^?1) + IBA (0.5 mg L^?1) and basal tubers on MS + TDZ at 2.0 mg L^?1. In vitro shoots were best rooted on half-strength (½) MS + NAA at 0.5 mg L^?1. The rooted plantlets were successfully acclimatized in pots with 70% survival after a hardening period of 1 mo. This protocol provides an effective method for the conservation of this endemic plant species.     

Quercetin and silver nitrate modulate organogenesis in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Carissa carandas</Emphasis> (L.)

An in vitro organogenesis protocol for Carissa carandas L. was developed using an auxin transport inhibitor (quercetin) and silver nitrate (AgNO₃), an inhibitor of ethylene action, in association with cytokinins in the culture medium. This protocol produced the maximum number of shoots from aseptic seedling-derived shoot apex explants of C. carandas. The highest rate of shoot multiplication was recorded on MS medium containing 2.0 mg L^?1 6-benzylaminopurine; 0.5 mg L^?1 kinetin, and 0.75 mg L^?1 quercetin at after 4 wk of culture. Similar results were obtained when MS medium fortified with 2.0 mg L^?1 BAP, 0.5 mg L^?1 kinetin, and 1.5 mg L^?1 AgNO₃ was used. However, successful rooting was achieved on quarter strength MS medium with 0.5 mg L^?1 indole-3-acetic acid. In this study, an inhibitor of auxin transport and ethylene action maximized shoot multiplication in medium fortified with cytokinins. The established rapid micropropagation method could be used to conserve elite genotypes of C. carandas.     

High efficient somatic embryogenesis development from leaf cultures of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Citrullus colocynthis</Emphasis> (L.) Schrad for generating true type clones

We report an efficient somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration system using leaf cultures of Citrullus colocynthis (L.) and assessed the effect of plant growth regulators on the regeneration process. Initially leaf explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with different concentrations of auxins viz., 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 1-naphthaleneacetic acid, gibberellic acid alone and along with combination of 6-benzylaminopurine. The different forms of calli such as compact, white friable, creamy friable, brownish nodular, green globular and green calli were induced from the leaf explants on MS medium containing different concentrations of auxins and gibberellins. Subsequently initial callus was subcultured at 1.5 mg L^?1 BAP + 1.0 mg L^?1 2,4-D which resulted in 25 % somatic embryos from 85 % nodular embryogenic nodular callus that is highest percentage. Similarly the lowest percentage of somatic embryos was recorded at 2.5 mg L^?1 BAP + 0.5 mg L^?1 NAA from 55 % embryogenic globular callus i.e., 16 %. High frequency of embryo development takes place at intermittent light when compared with continuous light in the individual subcultures. The cotyledonary embryos were developed into complete platelets on MS medium. In vitro regenerated plantlets were washed to remove the traces of agar and then transferred to sterile vermiculite and sand (2:1) containing pot.     

Development of doubled haploids from an elite <Emphasis Type="Italic">indica</Emphasis> rice hybrid (BS6444G) using anther culture

A total of 200 doubled haploids (DHs) were generated from an elite rice hybrid, ‘BS6444G’ for which an androgenic method was developed by manipulating the physical and chemical factors. The spike pretreated at 10?°C for 7–8 days was effective for callusing and green plant regeneration. The maximum callus frequency was achieved when the anthers cultured in N6 medium supplemented with 2.0 mg L^?1 2,4-diclorophenoxyacetic acid, 0.5 mg L^?1 6-benzylaminopurine and 3% maltose. Calli induced in N6 media also showed significant green shoot regeneration in MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg L^?1 1-napthalene acetic acid, 0.5 mg L^?1 kinetin, 1.5 mg L^?1 benzylaminopurine and 3% sucrose producing 210 green plants. Assessment of the ploidy status showed 95.71% fertile diploids and 4.2% polyploids; no haploids were observed. A total of 38 sequence-tagged microsatellite (STMS) markers proved able to discriminate a heterozygote from all the 200 DHs. The DHs grown in the field showed significant variation for their agronomic traits. Comparison of traits with control indicates homogeneity within each DH line and significant variance of traits between DH lines. Nine DH lines produce higher grain yield than the hybrid parent which suggests the possibility of exploiting hybrid vigor in indica rice through the development of DH lines of high yielding hybrids.     

Callus Induction in Small Flowered Willow Herb (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Epilobium parviflorum</Emphasis> Schreb)

In order to determine the most suitable in vitro tissue culture and plant regeneration conditions for the small flowered willow herb (Epilobium parviflorum Schreb), various explants were cultured on semi-solid MS media containing factorial combinations of plant growth regulators. Callus induction from hypocotyl, cotyledon, petiole and leaf explants was achieved on media containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) and kinetin (KIN). All other growth regulator combinations [□-naphtaleneacetic acid (NAA) ± benzylaminopurine (BAP), NAA ± thidiazuron (TDZ), indol acetic acid (IAA) ± Zeatin (ZEA)] tested failed to respond. The best results with cotyledon- and petiole- derived callus were obtained from MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg l^?1 2,4-D + 0.1 mg l^?1 KIN and 2.0 mg l^?1 2,4-D + 0.2 mg l^?1 KIN. It was observed that B5 basal medium was more effective than MS basal medium for producing seedling and the most effective seed sterilizing solution was 25 % (v/v) sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). No plant regeneration was observed in either callus induction or during the subculturing stage. This is the first report on in vitro tissue culture study within the genus Epilobium.     

Efficient genetic transformation and regeneration system from hairy root of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Origanum vulgare</Emphasis>

Origanum vulgare L is commonly known as a wild marjoram and winter sweet which has been used in the traditional medicine due to its therapeutic effects as stimulant, anticancer, antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and many other diseases. A reliable gene transfer system via Agrobacterium rhizogenes and plant regeneration via hairy roots was established in O. vulgare for the first time. The frequency of induced hairy roots was different by modification of the co-cultivation medium elements after infection by Agrobacterium rhizogenes strains K599 and ATCC15834. High transformation frequency (91.3 %) was achieved by co-cultivation of explants with A. rhizogenes on modified (MS) medium. The frequency of calli induction with an 81.5 % was achieved from hairy roots on MS medium with 0.25 mg/L^?1 2,4-D. For shoot induction, initiated calli was transferred into a medium containing various concentrations of BA (0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1 mg/L^?1). The frequency of shoot generation (85.18 %) was achieved in medium fortified with 0.25 mg/L^?1 of BA. Shoots were placed on MS medium with 0.25 mg/l IBA for root induction. Roots appeared and induction rate was achieved after 15 days.     

A rapid and efficient in vitro shoot regeneration protocol using cotyledons of London plane tree (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Platanus acerifolia</Emphasis> Willd.)

A rapid, prolific and reproducible protocol for in vitro shoot regeneration from mature cotyledons of Platanus acerifolia has been developed. The influences of different plant growth regulator (PGR) combinations and donor seedling ages on shoot regeneration were investigated. The results showed that the application of BA in conjunction with NAA was the most effective PGR combination for the induction of shoot regeneration. When cotyledon explants of 5-day-old seedlings were incubated on MS basal medium supplemented with 4.0 mg L^?1 BA and 0.2 mg L^?1 NAA, 67.6?±?4.9% of the cotyledon segments produced adventitious shoots. These regenerated shoots were initially formed as stunted rosette cluster forms and were encouraged to elongate to produce distinct shoots by transfer onto MS medium containing 0.5 mg L^?1 BA and 0.05 mg L^?1 NAA; the resulting mean number of adventitious shoots per explant was 5.81?±?0.36. The elongated shoots were readily induced to root (i.e. 89.3% of shoots) by incubation on ½-strength MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg L^?1 IBA. This is the first report of an efficient in vitro shoot regeneration protocol for P. acerifolia through direct organogenesis using cotyledon explants. Hence, this provides a more efficient basis for the Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of Platanus than previously available.     

In vitro plantlet regeneration and assessment of alkaloid contents from callus cultures of Ephedra foliata (Unth phog), a source of anti-asthmatic drugs

Ephedra foliata, (Gymnosperm) is a pharmaceutically important plant known for the last 5,000 years and has a number of medicinal properties. We describe here for the first time, a method for plant regeneration from callus established from axillary buds as explant, with the aim of optimizing alkaloids production in vitro. The tissue cultures initiated are being maintained for the last 3 years on Murashige and Skoog (Physiol Plant 15:473–497, 1962) medium containing 0.5 mg l^?1 each of 2, 4-D and Kin. Maintained callus cultures exhibited regeneration potential and maximum number (23.5 ± 0.44 shoots per culture vessel) of shoots with an average height (4.94 ± 0.23 cm) was achieved on MS medium containing combination of 0.25 mg l^?1 each of Kin, BA and 0.1 mg l^?1 of NAA. About 84.9 % regenerated shoots were rooted under ex vitro conditions on Soilrite^®, if their base was treated with 500 mg l^?1 of IBA for 5 min. The rooted plantlets were successfully acclimatized under greenhouse conditions with ≈80 % survival rate. We analyzed alkaloid contents of tissue culture raised plants/callus as affected by the different concentrations and combination of two additives, i.e., l-phenylalanine and IBA. The alkaloid production was higher in the in vitro grown cultures than field-grown plants. Highest alkaloid content was recorded in callus culture on M₅ medium having 0.5 mg l^?1 each of 2, 4-D and Kin, 100 mg l^?1 l-phenylalanine and 5 mg l^?1 IBA. The present protocol may be applicable for the large-scale cultivation of E. foliata and selection of cell line having higher secondary metabolite contents of this pharmaceutically important threatened plant species.     

Improvement of shoot proliferation and comparison of secondary metabolites in shoot and callus cultures of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phlomis armeniaca</Emphasis> by LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis

Phlomis armeniaca Willd. is a medicinal plant in the Lamiaceae family endemic to Turkey. The present study describes efficient plant regeneration and callus induction protocols for P. armeniaca and compares phenolic profiles, total phenol and flavonoid contents, and free radical scavenging activity of in vitro-derived tissues. Stem node explants from germinated seedlings were cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) supplemented with 75 plant growth regulator (PGR) combinations. The highest shoot number per explant, frequency of shoot proliferation, and frequency of highly proliferated, green, compact callus were obtained on MS medium containing 0.25 mg L^?1 thidiazuron (TDZ) and 0.25 mg L^?1 indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). The best root formation was on MS basal medium (control). Methanol extract of leaves obtained from regenerants contained higher total phenol and flavonoid contents than the callus extract. The callus extract showed stronger free radical scavenging activity than leaves with IC₅₀ [concentration inhibiting 50% of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical] values of 4.30 ± 0.08 and 2.21 ± 0.04 mg g^?1 dry weight in leaves and callus, respectively. Apigenin, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, luteolin, rutin hydrate, vanillic acid, ferulic acid, salicylic acid, sinapic acid, and chlorogenic acid were detected by liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization multistage tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) analysis in in vitro-grown leaves and callus tissue. Rutin hydrate, p-coumaric acid, and vanillic acid were found at approximately tenfold higher levels in callus than in leaves. This new micropropagation protocol, the first for P. armeniaca, could be used in industrial production for new herbal tea and germplasm conservation.     

Development of a Polygonum minus cell suspension culture system and analysis of secondary metabolites enhanced by elicitation

Polygonum minus has been reported to contain valuable metabolites and to date, there is no report on using cell culture technique for metabolite production in P. minus. Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) concentrations in the range of 2–6 mg L^?1 were used in a matrix of combinations with dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) concentrations in the range of 2–10 mg L^?1 as plant growth regulators (PGRs) to induce callus cultures. Media that were supplemented with 2 mg L^?1 2,4-D + 4 mg L^?1 NAA, 2 mg L^?1 2,4-D + 6 mg L^?1 NAA and 6 mg L^?1 2,4-D + 8 mg L^?1 NAA were effective for callus induction (93.3 % of the explants produced callus). To establish cell culture, the best growth was obtained from medium that was supplemented with 1 mg L^?1 2,4-D + 2 mg L^?1 NAA. From a 1-g inoculum size, the fresh weight increases exponentially after 5–10 days of culture, and a 26.71 g maximum fresh weight was obtained after 25 days of culture. The cell culture medium was then analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Jasmonic acid (100, 50, 25 and 5 μM), salicylic acid (100, 50, 25 and 5 μM), yeast extract (500, 250 and 100 mg L^?1) and glass beads were used in this research as elicitors. The cell cultures were then incubated with the different elicitors for 1, 2, 3 and 4 days. Several compounds with high peak area percentages were detected, including 2-furancarboxaldehyde, 5-hydroxymethyl, furfural, and 2-cyclopenten-1-one, 2-hydroxy. These results show the diversity of metabolites released by P. minus cell into the culture medium under control conditions.     

Antimitotic and hormone effects on green double haploid plant production through anther culture of Mediterranean japonica rice

Rice double haploid (DH) plants are produced mainly through anther culture. In order to improve the anther culture protocol, microspores of two japonica rice genotypes (NRVC980385 and H28) were subjected to three growth regulator combinations and four colchicine treatments on induction medium. In addition, a post anther culture procedure using colchicine or oryzalin was tested to induce double haploid plantlets from haploid plantlets. A cold pre-treatment of microspores for 9 days at 10 °C increased callus induction 50-fold in the NRCV980385 genotype. For both genotypes, 2 mg L^?1 2,4-D and 1 mg L^?1 kinetin on colchicine-free induction medium gave the best culture responses. The culturability of both genotypes changed on colchicine-supplemented induction media. A high genotype dependency was recorded for callus induction, callus regenerating green plantlets and regeneration of green double haploid plantlets. Colchicine at 300 mg L^?1 for 48 h enhanced callus induction 100-fold in H28. Colchicine-supplemented media clearly improved green double haploid plantlet regeneration. We showed that the post-anther culture treatment of haploid plantlets at 500 mg L^?1 of colchicine permitted fertile double haploid plantlets to be generated. Finally, an enhanced medium-throughput flow cytometry protocol for rice was tested to analyse all the plantlets from anther and post anther culture.     

Establishment of long-term proliferating shoot cultures of elite <Emphasis Type="Italic">Jatropha curcas</Emphasis> L. by controlling endophytic bacterial contamination

Leaf explants of the second or third node were collected from field-grown elite Jatropha curcas trees and incubated in Murashige and Skoog’s (Physiol Plant 15:473–497, 1962) medium supplemented with growth regulators. Direct shoot organogenesis was induced when explants were incubated in a medium containing 0.5 mg l^?1 benzyladenine (BA) and 0.1 mg l^?1 indolebutyric acid (IBA). A maximum of seven shoot buds differentiated within 6 weeks of culture incubation. Indirect shoot organogenesis was obtained when explants were incubated in the medium supplemented with 0.5 mg l^?1 BA along with 1.0 mg l^?1 each of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and indoleacetic acid (IAA). A pulse treatment of 0.5 mg l^?1 thidiazurone (TDZ) and 0.1 mg l^?1 IBA for 5 days was necessary for shoot organogenesis in green compact callus before subculture into 0.5 mg l^?1 BA and 0.1 mg l^?1 IBA containing medium. Leaf explants of J. curcas, collected from the field, contained endophytic bacterial contamination, which expressed itself after 2–3 subcultures. These bacteria were cultured and identified as Enterobacter ludwigii. After staining, these were found as gram-negative bacteria. Their sensitivity against different antibiotics has been tested by culturing them with different antibiotic stabs for 72 h. Finally, Augmentin® was found as the most effective and suitable antibiotic which not only controlled the bacteria within 2–3 subcultures but also supported the regeneration system and growth of the regenerated shoots and such cultures have been grown for a long-term of over 2 years without any contamination.     

Somatic embryogenesis from mature zygotic embryos of Distylium chinense (Fr.) Diels and assessment of genetic fidelity of regenerated plants by SRAP markers

The objective was to establish an efficient regeneration protocol for Distylium chinense based on somatic embryogenesis and evaluate the genetic stability of plants regenerated in vitro. To induce callus mature zygotic embryos were cultured on Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium that was supplemented with different concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and N⁶-benzyladenine (BA). After 20 days, the highest rate of callus formation (88.9 %) occurred on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg l^?1 2,4-D and 0.1 mg l^?1 BA. It was observed that light-yellow, compact, dry, nodular embryogenic calli had formed. These calli were then subcultured on fresh MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg l^?1 BA and 0.5 mg l^?1 α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) for proliferation for an additional 30 days. To induce somatic embryos and plant regeneration, the embryogenic callus was transferred to fresh MS medium that was supplemented with different concentrations of BA and NAA. After 30 days, 0.5 mg l^?1 BA in combination with 0.5 mg l^?1 NAA produced the best result in terms of somatic embryogenesis (%), shoot differentiation (%), number of shoots per callus and shoot length. Next, the plantlets were transferred to the field for 5 weeks and a 95 % survival rate was observed. The sequence-related amplified polymorphism markers confirmed genetic stability of plants regenerated in vitro. To our knowledge, this is the first report that describes a plant regeneration protocol for D. chinense via somatic embryogenesis to be used for germplasm conservation and commercial cultivation.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In vitro</Emphasis> shoot regeneration and enhanced synthesis of plumbagin in root callus of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plumbago zeylanica</Emphasis> L.—an important medicinal herb

Plumbago zeylanica L., an important medicinal herb, possesses plumbagin, a valuable secondary metabolite. Roots of this plant, collected from four locations in Himachal Pradesh, India, were screened for plumbagin content with high-performance liquid chromatography. The chemotype collected from Hamirpur yielded the highest content (26.47?±?0.63 mg g^?1 dry weight). Callus cultures were established from nodal explants of this chemotype on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium augmented with α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, (2,4-D), 6-benzyladenine (BA), isopentenyl adenine (2iP), or thidiazuron, (TDZ). After 45 d, 98% of the cultures induced bright-green, compact callus on MS?+?5 μM TDZ. Upon subculturing, this callus differentiated an average of 4.08?±?1.16 shoots in 62.5% of the cultures. After elongation on basal MS medium, excised shoots were transferred to indole-3-acetic acid, NAA, or IBA supplemented MS medium. A maximum of 4.3?±?1.36 roots with an average length of 15.31?±?2.76 cm were recorded on 5 μM IBA. Rooted plantlets were successfully acclimatized in a greenhouse, and their genetic fidelity was evaluated using inter simple sequence repeats and start codon targeted molecular markers, which revealed 97% similarity. A significant increase in plumbagin content (6.5- and 3.4-fold) was achieved in root callus employing 100 mg L^?1 yeast extract (YE) and 25 μM salicylic acid (SA), respectively. This is the first report of large-scale propagation of P. zeylanica and an increase of plumbagin through in vitro root callus.     

Feeding elicitors and precursors enhance colchicine accumulation in morphogenic cultures of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gloriosa superba</Emphasis> L.

Morphogenic cultures of Gloriosa superba were initiated on Murashige and Skoog’s medium fortified with 2 mg L^?1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 0.5 mg L^?1 naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), 4% sucrose and 0.1% activated charcoal. To enhance the content of the alkaloid colchicine, morphogenic cultures were treated with different concentrations of abiotic elicitors like signalling compounds, metals, biotic elicitors, precursors and a combination of elicitors. Signalling molecules like acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) and sodium nitroprusside improved the production of colchicine. Abiotic elicitors have markedly (p?≤?0.05 or ≤?0.01) enhanced the colchicine content either at lower or higher concentrations. Among the metals, the highest amount of 11.67 mg of colchicine g^?1 dry wt was noticed at 60 mM rubidium chloride, followed by 60 mM NaCl (11.18 mg g^?1). Contrarily, in the presence of biotic elicitors such as Fusarium oxysporum, Alternaria solani, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, colchicine content ranged only between 2 and 5.32 mg g^?1, but Bacillus subtilis repressed it. Among the aromatic amino acids, phenylalanine at 500 mg L^?1 influenced the highest accumulation of 19.48 mg g^?1 dry tissue, followed by tryptophan (12.47 mg g^?1), and tyrosine (9.87 mg g^?1), a direct precursor of colchicine biosynthesis, while intact tubers and leaves contained 4.65 and 4.16 mg of colchicine g^?1 dry tissue respectively. A combination of 10 µM AlCl₃ and 50 µM salicylic acid (SA) registered 17.34 mg g^?1 followed by 16.24 mg g^?1 tissue in presence of 1 µM HgCl₂ and 50 µM SA. The results suggest that the elicitor-stimulated colchicine accumulation was a stress response and can be exploited further for commercial production.