Plant regeneration from organogenic callus and assessment of clonal fidelity in Elephantopus scaber Linn., an ethnomedicinal herb

An efficient callus induction and plant regeneration system has been standardized for an ethnomedicinal plant, Elephantopus scaber Linn. Two explants i. e. seeds and leaf segments were used for callus induction. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 5.0 μM 2, 4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2, 4-D) and 0.5 μM kinetin (Kn) gave the optimum frequency (89 %) of callus induction from seed explant. The results showed that the highest response in terms of percent callus regenerating (91 %) and number of shoots (56) per culture was recorded on MS medium supplemented with 6.0 μM N₆-benzylaminopurine (BA) and 1.5 μM α naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). The best rooting of regenerated shoots was obtained on half strength MS medium supplemented with 6.0 μM indole-3- butyric acid (IBA). On this medium, 100 % of the shoots produced roots with a mean number of 3.2 roots per shoot. The positive role of vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) along with potting mix has been well established in the present study. Of the various potting mix employed for plant acclimatization, the highest response of 100 % plant survival was noticed when autoclaved garden soil, sand (2:1) and VAM was utilized as potting mix. Inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) were used to establish the clonal fidelity of regenerated plantlets and the banding profiles from callus derived plants were monomorphic and similar to those of mother plant, thus ascertaining the true-to-type nature of these plants.     

An efficient plant regeneration system for Mucuna pruriens L. (DC.) using cotyledonary node explants

Summary The purpose of this study was to develop an efficient micropropagation system for Mucuna pruriens, an important medicinal plant in India. A range of cytokinins was investigated for multiple shoot regeneration with cotyledonary node explants from 7-d-old aseptic seedlings. Of all the cytokinins, 6-benzyladenine (BA), kinetin (KIN) and 2-isopentenyl adenine (2-iP) tested in Murashige and Skoog medium (MS), BA was the most effective and 5.0 μM was found to be optimum for inducing maximum shoots. Medium types, medium strength and pH were also investigated for induction and proliferation of shoots. The highest efficiency of shoot proliferation was observed in 5.0 μM BA and 0.5 μM α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) in half-strength MS medium at pH 5.8. The best condition for rooting was half-strength MS medium solidified with agar and with 2.0 μM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). After rooting, the plantlets were transferred to plastic pots filled with sterile soilrite where 90% grew and all exhibited normal development.     

Genotypic variability for callus formation and plant regeneration in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Summary Sixty rice varieties (Oryza sativa L.), belonging to three subspecies, japonica, indica and javanica (some japonicaXindica hybrids were included), were compared for their capacity for callus growth and plant regeneration. Tissue cultures initiated from mature seeds on Murashige and Skoog's (1962) medium with 2 mg/l 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) were transferred to a medium containing 0.02 mg/l 2,4-D and 10 mg/l kinetin, from which plantlets were regenerated. Large variabilities in callus growth and plant regeneration potentials were revealed among the varieties tested. Most japonica varieties formed a callus that weighed more than 100 mg per seed 30 days after inoculation, and showed a relatively high regenerative potential, whereas indica varieties, japonica-indica hybrids and javanica varieties showed poor callus growth and plant regeneration, although considerable varietal variation was observed in each subspecies. The callus growth potential was not correlated with the plant regeneration potential. Histological observations revealed that the epithelium cells of the scutellum mainly proliferated to form a callus, from which shoot and root primordia were differentiated independently from each other. The shoot primordia developed into plantlets when roots were formed adventitiously. In a few cases, shoots and roots were bilaterally initiated from a single primordium.     

High-frequency callus induction and plant regeneration in Tripsacum dactyloides (L.)

Summary A protocol for high-frequency callus, somatic embryogenesis, and plant regeneration for Tripsacum is described. Plants were regenerated from complete shoot meristems (3–4 mm) via organogenesis and embryogenesis. In organogenesis, the shoot meristems were cultured directly on a high cytokinin medium comprising 5–10 mgl⁻¹ (22.2–44.4 μM) 6-benzyladenine (BA). The number of multiple shoots varied from six to eight from each meristem. The time required for production of plants from organogenesis was rapid (4–6 wk). In contrast, callus was induced on an auxin medium and continuously cultured on an auxin medium for production of somatic embryos. Prolific callus with numerous somatic embryos developed within 3–4 wk when cultured on an auxin medium containing 5 mgl⁻¹ (22.6μM), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). The number of shoots induced varied from two to five per callus. Regardless of the cultivars used, the frequency of callus induction and plant regeneration was between 48% and 94%. The seed germination procedures also were modified and resulted in a maximum of 60–80% seed germination. Finally, the rate of T-DNA transfer to complete shoot meristems of Tripsacum was high on the auxin medium and was independent of whether super-virulent strains of Agrobacterium were used or not.     

Efficient plant regeneration through somatic embryogenesis from callus induced on mature rice embryos (Oryza sativa L.)

To obtain a reproducible efficient procedure for regeneration of rice plants through somatic embryogenesis from callus four published methods of callus induction and regeneration were compared. Callus was initiated from mature embryos of the Japonica cultivar Taipei 309 of rice (Oryza sativa L.). The number, mass and morphology of the callus formed on the scutellum were dependent on the medium used. A limited humidity and an optimal aeration of the culture vessels enhanced the frequency of embryogenesis and plant regeneration. A method described by Poonsapaya et al. (1989) was found to be the most efficient and was slightly modified. As a result 98% of the T309 embryos formed callus, of which 63% regenerated into plants. Each callus yielded an average of 6 plants. Plant morphology, fertility and seed set of the regenerants were found to be normal.Abbreviations 2,4-d 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - IAA 3-indole-acetic acid - BA 6-benzyladeninepurine - S.E.M. standard error of mean     

Plant regeneration from callus of Puccinellia distans (L.) Parl

Callus was induced from seeds of Puccinellia distans (L.) Parl. on MS medium supplemented with 2 mgl^-1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 0.5 mgl^-1 kinetin. Morphogenesis initiation was achieved during subculture on medium containing 0.1 mgl^-1 2,4-D. From the point of morphogenetic capacity, 3 types of callus were selected. High frequency of plant regeneration was obtained by selection of embryogenic type of callus, and culture on N₆ medium and N₆ medium supplemented with kinetin (5–10 mgl^-1), or kinetin (2 mgl^-1) and IAA (0.5 mgl^-1). A high ratio of albinos among regenerants was observed.     

Efficient plant regeneration protocol through callus for Saussurea obvallata (DC.) Edgew. (Asteraceae): effect of explant type, age and plant growth regulators

A callus induction and in vitro plantlet regeneration system for the endangered state flower of Uttaranchal (Saussurea obvallata) was optimized by studying the influence of explant type (root, hypocotyl, cotyledon and leaf), age and different concentrations of plant growth regulators. Explants from 10 to 15-day-old seedlings showed maximum callus induction. Callus formation and shoot differentiation was initiated on Murashige-Skoog (MS) medium containing 6-benzyladenine (BA) and -naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) in all explant types. The best results were obtained using leaf explants: 100% callusing was achieved in MS medium supplemented with 2.5 M BA and 1.0 M NAA, and 100% differentiation along with a multiplication rate of 12 shoots per explant with a combination of 5.0 M BA and 1.0 M NAA. However, the results reflected the existence of high inter-explant variability in response to growth regulators. In vitro rooting of shoots was achieved at an efficiency of 100% in one-half strength MS medium supplemented with 2.5 M indole-3-butyric acid. Application of this protocol has potential for mass multiplication of the target species in a limited time period.     

Development of a highly efficient, repetitive system of organogenesis in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr).

A highly efficient, repetitive system of organogenesis was developed in soybean. Seeds of soybean cv. White hilum pretreated with TDZ formed multiple bud tissue(s) (MBT) at the cotyledonary nodes. MBT initiation occurred only if the axillary buds were not removed from the cotyledonary node. The best MBT formation was achieved by pretreating the seeds for 1 week on medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/l TDZ, followed by culture of the cotyledonary node on medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l BA for 4 weeks. Culture of the MBT on medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/l TDZ resulted in the proliferation of MBT. MBT was maintained in this way for 12 months. Three hundred thirty six shoots were obtained when 1 g of MBT was subcultured on medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l BA. Plants were rooted on medium without growth regulators. The regenerated plants grew normally in the greenhouse. Unfortunately, they did not set seeds because of the long-day conditions during growth. This system was successfully applied in three other genotypes.     

In vitro callus induction and plant regeneration from leaf explants of Ruta graveolens L.

A protocol for multiple shoot bud induction and plant regeneration from leaf segment-derived callus of Ruta graveolens has been developed. Maximum organogenic callus induction frequency (70.6 ± 2.33%) was observed on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 10 µM 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T). Multiple shoot induction was achieved from the surface of the callus when transferred to shoot induction media (MS nutrients supplemented with 6-benzyladenine (BA), kinetin (Kn), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) in various concentrations and combinations). The highest shoot multiplication (92.3%) was observed on MS medium with 7.5 µM BA and 1.0 µM NAA. Regenerated shoots were rooted in vitro on MS containing 0.5 µM IBA. Plantlets with well developed root and shoot systems were successfully acclimated (90%) and established in earthen pots containing garden soil; they exhibited normal morphology and growth characteristics.     

An efficient grafting system for transgenic plant recovery in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

A successful transformation program relies on the number of survival plants in soil that can be obtained. Low recovery of transgenic plants is still a key restrictive factor for transgenic cotton production. In order to utilize genetic transformation in cotton breeding program effectively, an efficient grafting system for recovering plants derived from somatic embryogenesis following Agrobacterium infection and kanamycin selection was developed. Various aspects of in vitro grafting were examined in efforts to improve the efficiency of transformant recovery. Using strong seedling rootstocks was the first important step to obtain high rate of successful grafts. Scion size >0.6 cm and seedling rootstock at age of 6–12 days were appropriate for grafting. The successful grafting ratio was higher when using hypocotyls without radicle. Shoot-tip and shoot stem with axillary bud were also suitable for in vitro grafting, which meant we could significantly improve the survival ratio of transgenic plantlets, because one plantlet has a shoot-tip but several axillary buds. Based on our data, the period from in vitro seedling rootstock germination to transplant of grafts to field usually takes one month. Over 90% successful grafting ratio could be obtained under optimal conditions, which represented a significant improvement over currently available methods for recovery of cotton plantlet from somatic embryogenesis after transformation. Ex vitro grafting could also be used for plant recovery, which gave an average of successful grafting ratio of 71.9%. However, this method was strongly affected by environmental factors.     

Improved callus formation and plant regeneration for shed microspore culture in asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.)

 To establish an efficient asparagus microspore culture system, experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of medium components, period of cold pretreatment for flower buds, and period of anther co-culture on culture response. All factors affected the frequency of asparagus microspore division and the yields of microspore-derived calli. The best results were obtained by pretreating genotype G459 flower buds at 4  °C for 7–9 days, co-culturing anthers with shed microspores for 14 days, and including 6% sucrose, 2 mg l^–1α-naphthaleneacetic acid and 1 mg l^–1 N⁶-benzylaminopurine in the culture medium. After 4 days of culture, most shed microspores contained starch-like bodies and died. The 2% of shed microspores lacking these structures divided to produce microcalli. For the best treatments in the different experiments, about 140 calli per 100 anthers were recovered. Cultured on four different regeneration media, 19.6–21% and 3.9–8.0% of microspore-derived calli produced shoots and embryos, respectively, and ultimately plantlets, among which 49% were haploid, 34% diploid, 4% triploid and 11% tetraploid. Received: 3 September 1998 / Revision received: 25 November 1998 / Accepted: 5 December 1998     

An improved and reliable chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) plant regeneration method

In this work we report a new method forin vitro chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) plant regeneration based on shoot formation from wounded hypocotyls. Chili pepper seeds were surface sterilized and germinated on agar (0.8%) at 25 ± 2°C in the dark. Five factors that may influence shoot regeneration were studied: age of seedlings, hypocotyl wounding site, time elapsed between wounding the hypocotyls and decapitation of seedlings, culture media and cultivars. In order to study the influence of the first three factors on shoot regeneration, the apical, middle or basal hypocotyl regions of seedlings of cv. Mulato Bajio at different stages of development (9, 15, 16, 21 and 28 d old) were wounded with a syringe needle, and the seedlings were cultured on MS semisolid medium without growth regulators at 25 ± 2°C under a 16/8 h light/dark photoperiod (daylight fluorescent lamps; 35 mol m-² s-^-1) until decapitation. The seedlings were decapitated (3 mm below the cotyledons) at different times after wounding (0, 2, 4, 10, 12 and 14 d), and each explant was evaluated for bud and shoot formation ( 5 mm in length) at the wounded site after 30 d of incubation. In general, seedlings at the stage of curved hypocotyl (9 d old) wounded in the apical region of hypocotyl were the best explants for shoot regeneration when inoculated on culture medium without growth regulators. Decapitation after wounding also influenced the shoot regeneration efficiency, with 10–14 d being the best period. Up to 90% shoot regeneration in cv. Mulato Bajio was obtained under these conditions. Statistically significant differences were observed for shoot formation among 21 cultivars tested. Regeneration of whole plants was achieved by rooting the shoots with indole-3-butyric acid pulses of 60 mg L^–1 for 3 h and then subculturing on MS medium without growth regulators.     

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

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

Efficient and rapid in vitro plant regeneration system for Indian cultivars of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Lacking of an efficient regeneration protocol for the recalcitrant crop chickpea is a limiting factor for adapting genetic engineering approaches for its improvement. The present study describes a rapid and efficient method for multiple shoot regeneration for three Indian cultivars, B115, C235, ICCV89314, using single cotyledons with half embryos as explant. Modified MS medium with 1.5 mg l⁻¹ 6-benzyladenine (BA) and 0.04 mg l⁻¹ α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) induced a maximum of 26 shoots from a single explant after 20 days of culture. When cultured in modified MS medium containing 0.2 mg l⁻¹ indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), 80% of the shoots from each regenerating explant elongated in another 20–25 days. Following a root-grafting protocol, 90–95% of the elongated shoots survived in soil which subsequently produced seeds. The regeneration process from explant preparation to complete plants took 55–60 days. The presently optimized rapid regeneration method holds promise for facilitating the deployment of agronomically important components through genetic transformation for betterment of this important food crop.     

Development of an efficient in vitro plant regeneration system amenable to Agrobacterium- mediated transformation of a recalcitrant grain legume blackgram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper)

An efficient, rapid and direct multiple shoot regeneration system amenable to Agrobacterium-mediated transformation from primary leaf with intact petiole of blackgram (Vigna mungo) is established for the first time. The effect of the explant type and its age, type and concentration of cytokinin and auxin either alone or in combination and genotype on multiple shoot regeneration efficiency and frequency was optimized. The primary leaf explants with petiole excised from 4-day-old seedlings directly developed multiple shoots (an average of 10 shoots/ explant) from the cut ends of the petiole in 95 % of the cultures on MSB (MS salts and B₅ vitamins) medium containing 1.0 μM 6-benzylaminopurine. Elongated (2–3 cm) shoots were rooted on MSB medium with 2.5 μM indole-butyric acid and resulted plantlets were hardened and established in soil, where they resumed growth and reached maturity with normal seed set. The regenerated plants were morphologically similar to seed-raised plants and required 8 weeks time from initiation of culture to establish them in soil. The regeneration competent cells present at the cut ends of petiole are fully exposed and are, thus, easily accessible to Agrobacterium, making this plant regeneration protocol amenable for the production of transgenic plants. The protocol was further successfully used to develop fertile transgenic plants of blackgram using Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA 105 carrying a binary vector pCAMBIA2301 that contains a neomycin phosphotransferase gene (nptII) and a β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene (uidA) interrupted with an intron. The presence and integration of transgenes in putative T₀ plants were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern blot hybridization, respectively. The transgenes were inherited in Mendelian fashion in T₁ progeny and a transformation frequency of 1.3 % was obtained. This protocol can be effectively used for transferring new traits in blackgram and other legumes for their quantitative and qualitative improvements.     

L-Dopa production and antioxidant activity in Hybanthus enneaspermus (L.) F. Muell regeneration

Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants - Hybanthus enneaspermus is an ethanobotanical plant extensively used in Indian traditional medicine. Quick and efficient in vitro mass propagation of...     

An efficient in vitro plant regeneration system for the medicinal plant Teucrium stocksianum Boiss.

An efficient and rapid plant regeneration system via direct organogenesis was established for Teucrium stocksianum Boiss. (Lamiaceae), an endangered and valuable medicinal plant. Hypocotyl explants excised from seedlings germinated in vitro were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations of kinetin and indoleacetic acid (IAA) to induce shoot formation. Differentiation of multiple shoots was initiated within 3 weeks of culture. Optimal regeneration was achieved on medium containing 3 mg/l kinetin and 0.5 mg/l IAA. This particular medium composition significantly improved the production of multiple shoots directly from hypocotyl explants compared to other combinations of plant growth regulators. Root induction was achieved on half-strength MS medium containing indole-3-butyric acid. Rooted plantlets were successfully acclimatized, with a survival rate of 75–80%. The protocol developed in this study could be used for long-term in vitro conservation and mass propagation of this species.     

High-frequency plant regeneration from seed-derived callus cultures of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.)

Shoot regeneration from seed-derived callus cultures of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) was tested on MS basal medium supplemented with four different growth regulators. Regeneration frequencies for medium supplemented with 10 M 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 60 M 4amino-3, 5,6-picolinic acid (picloram), or 30 M 3,6dichloro-o-anisic acid (dicamba) ranged from 0.4 to 4%. Medium supplemented with 30 M dicamba plus 10 M 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) resulted in regeneration of shoots from 20% of the calli tested. Higher rates of growth regulators (60 or 90 M dicamba, 20 M BA) resulted in regeneration of shoots from 45% of calli of the cultivar Baron. In a subsequent study, the response of 12 North American cultivars grown on these media was cultivar-specific, with mean frequencies of regeneration ranging from 4% to 40%.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyaceticacid - dicamba 3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid - picloram 4-amino-3,5,6-picolinic acid - BA 6-benzylaminopurine     

An efficient in vitro regeneration of Ceropegia noorjahaniae: an endemic and critically endangered medicinal herb of the Western Ghats

An efficient protocol was developed for the rapid in vitro multiplication of an endemic and critically endangered medicinal herb, Ceropegia noorjahaniae Ans., via enhanced axillary bud proliferation from nodal explants. The effects of phytohormones [6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), kinetin (Kin) thidiazuron (TDZ), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) or α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA)] on in vitro regeneration were investigated. The highest number of shoots (18.3 ± 1.3), maximum shoot length (10.1 ± 0.8 cm) and the highest response of shoot induction (95 %) were recorded on MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/l BAP. Rooting was best achieved on half-strength MS medium augmented with IBA (1.0 mg/l). Half-strength MS medium supplemented with BAP (4 mg/l) and sucrose (5 %, w/v) produced an average of 5.6 flower buds per microshoots with highest (90 %) flower bud induction response. The plantlets regenerated in vitro with well-developed shoot and roots were successfully established in pots containing sterile sand and coco peat (1:1) and grown in a greenhouse with 85 % survival rate. The regenerated plants did not show any detectable morphological variation. The developed method can be successfully employed for large-scale multiplication and conservation of C. noorjahaniae.     

A comparison of methods for callus culture and plant regeneration of RD25 rice (Oryza sativa L.) in two laboratories

While methodology is transferable from one laboratory to another, an exact transfer does not usually occur and even a nearly exact transfer of methods does not always result in repeatable data. Researchers should not expect that an effort to duplicate a published procedure will necessarily lead to identical results.In attempting to transfer rice tissue culture methods between laboratories in Fort Collins, Colorado, USA and Bangkok, Thailand, we discovered that a combination of the methods of each laboratory produced the best results in term of callus productions and plant regeneration. In the experiments reported here, the type of culture vessel used and the geographical location were also important variables.Supported by the USAID/Cooperative Agreement No DAN-4137-A-00-4053-00.