Successful plant regeneration from callus cultures of Centella asiatica (Linn.) Urban

A successful procedure was established for in vitro plant regeneration from callus derived from stem and leaf explants of Centella asiatica on semisolid modified Murashige and Skoog's [7] medium supplemented with 2.0 mg L³ kinetin and 4.0 mg L³ a-naphthaleneacetic acid. The rate of shoot-bud regeneration was the highest (42.8 and 54.3 shoots/culture in stem and leaf derived callus respectively) after 4 weeks of subculture on 4.0 mg L³ 6-benzyladenine, 2.0 mg L³ Kn, 0.25 mg L³ a-naphthaleneacetic acid and 20 mg L³ adenine sulfate. Differentiated shoots rooted within 11 days in 1/2 strength MS basal salts supplemented with 0.5 mg L³ indole-3-acetic acid and 2% (w/v) sucrose. About 85% of rooted plantlets were acclimatized and transferred to the greenhouse.     

壳寡糖对辣椒种子萌发及幼苗抗氧化酶活性影响研究

壳寡糖是甲壳素的重要衍生物,具有良好的生物学活性,可调节植物生长,使农作物和水果蔬菜增产丰收,因而在农业上的应用日渐增多,在农业上的应用,包括促进种子萌发和植物生长。本文选取辣椒种子为研究对象,探讨了不同浓度壳寡糖对辣椒种子萌发的影响,研究结果表明一定浓度的壳寡糖可以促进种子萌发,以0.10mg/L浓度的壳寡糖效果最显著;不同浓度壳寡糖浸种处理能激活辣椒幼苗抗氧化酶活性。     

大叶藤黄种子的愈伤组织及丛生芽诱导

大叶藤黄Garcinia xanthochymus种子具有全能萌发的特点,但其生理基础仍然不明确。为了研究其再生生长特性,分别以大叶藤黄成熟和未成熟种子的切片为外植体,MS为基本培养基,探讨添加外源NAA、TDZ、IAA、6-BA、2,4-D 等生长调节物质诱导愈伤组织和不定芽的效果。结果表明：(1) 愈伤组织的发生主要取决于种子是否成熟。取自成熟种子的外植体,即使不添加外源生长调节物质,诱导率也超过80%;而取自未成熟种子的外植体,仅TDZ (0.25～3mg·L^–1)和6-BA (1.5～2 mg·L^–1)有效,且发生率低于40%。(2) 仅6-BA可稳定诱导生成不定芽,最佳方案为取成熟种子外植体在含5.5 mg·L^–1 6-BA的MS培养基上培养诱导,其发生率可达73%,外植体的平均不定芽发生数量为5.07个。该研究结果进一步证明大叶藤黄种子具有强大的再生生长能力,同时所研究的幼苗再生方案也为大叶藤黄无性繁育提供了可靠途径。     

Effect of exogenous gibberellic acid,abscisic acid,and benzylaminopurine on epicotyl dormancy of cultured herbaceous peony embryos

Epicotyl dormancy was broken in cultured peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) embryos after topical application of agarose gels containing gibberellic acid, with optimum growth at 1.5 mM gibberellic acid. Addition of 100 M abscisic acid to the medium resulted in complete inhibition of gibberellic acid-stimulated promotion of dormant epicotyls. Epicotyl dormancy was also broken in embryos by culture on media containing 1 or 10 M benzylaminopurine. A highly significant increase in leaf number occurred when embryos were both cultured on medium containing benzylaminopurine and treated topically with gibberellic acid. Anatomical and morphological studies indicated that the increase in shoot growth was due to the development and growth of 1) buds formed at the cotyledonary node, 2) axillary buds, and 3) adventitious meristems originating from subepidermal parenchymatous tissue.Abbreviations ABA abscisic acid - BA N⁶-benzylaminopurine - DMSO dimethyl sulfoxide - GA₃ gibberellic acid - LS Linsmaier and Skoog     

Salicylanilide diethyl phosphates: Synthesis,antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity

A series of 27 salicylanilide diethyl phosphates was prepared as a part of our on-going search for new antimicrobial active drugs. All compounds exhibited in vitro activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium kansasii and Mycobacterium avium strains, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 0.5–62.5 μmol/L. Selected salicylanilide diethyl phosphates also inhibit multidrug-resistant tuberculous strains at the concentration of 1 μmol/L. Salicylanilide diethyl phosphates also exhibited mostly the activity against Gram-positive bacteria (MICs ⩾1.95 μmol/L), whereas their antifungal activity is significantly lower. The IC₅₀ values for Hep G2 cells were within the range of 1.56–33.82 μmol/L, but there is no direct correlation with MICs for mycobacteria.     

In vitro propagation of two Iranian commercial pomegranates (Punica granatum L.) cvs. ‘Malas Saveh’ and ‘Yusef Khani’

An efficient in vitro propagation is described for Punica granatum L. using shoot tip and nodal explants. The influence of two basal medium, WPM and MS, and different plant growth regulators was investigated on micropropagation of the Iranian pomegranate cultivars, ‘Malas Saveh’ and ‘Yousef Khani’. For proliferation stage, media supplemented with different concentrations (2.3, 4.7, 9.2 and 18.4 μM) of kinetin along with 0.54 μM NAA was used. WPM proved to be more efficient medium compared to MS. The best concentrations of kinetin were 4.7 μM for ‘Malas Saveh’ and 9.2 μM for ‘Yousef Khani’, resulting in the highest number of shoots per explants, shoot length and leaf number. For both cultivars, half-strength WPM medium supplemented with 5.4 μM NAA was most effective for rooting of shoots. Rooted plantlets were successfully acclimatized and transferred into soil. The micropropagated plants were morphologically uniform and exhibited similar growth characteristics and vegetative morphology to the mother plants.     

离体植物花芽和花器官的发育研究进展

在近二十几年,尤其是近十年由于离体培养技术的完善和进一步向精确的层次的发展,已使得许多种植物花序、花芽和单独花器官以及部分的花器官在体外成功地进行了培养和尝试,并且对花芽及花器官的离体发育有了更深入的认识。不同植物的花发育需要不同的植物生长调节剂以及它们的不同配比,并且不同植物在其花发育所需要的营养因子也存在着相当大的差异性。这种差异性又随植物器官及花发育的不同阶段而受到加大或缩小。通过对正常花及突变体花进行的离体培养实验研究已经对一些花器官发生过程中的调节程序有了新的了解。利用离体培养技术,包括刚发展起来的薄层细胞培养技术在阐明花发育的机理、形态建成的分子机制以及成花梯度的物质基础等问题上具有广阔的潜力。     

暴马丁香成熟胚愈伤组织和体胚诱导及其生理状态解析

以暴马丁香成熟胚为外植体进行愈伤组织和体胚发生诱导,通过调节诱导培养基中植物生长调节剂的种类和浓度,分析其对愈伤组织诱导和体胚诱导的影响,同时对培养过程中的外植体进行形态发生观察和生理状态分析。结果表明:①暴马丁香成熟胚外植体培养30 d可见直接体胚发生、60 d可见子叶型体胚;②BA在愈伤组织诱导过程中起到了主导作用,在0.5 mg·mL^-1BA和5~6 mg·mL^-1NAA组合下,愈伤组织诱导率可达100%;在0.5 mg·mL^-1BA和5 mg·mL^-1NAA组合体胚诱导率可达8%;③多酚含量在愈伤组织形成初期急剧上升且在培养过程中保持较高水平,子叶型胚期PAL和POD活性升高、MDA和SOD活性略下降。     

History of orchid propagation: a mirror of the history of biotechnology

Part I Orchid seeds are nearly microscopic in size. Because of that, many fanciful theories were proposed for the origin of orchids. Almost 400 years separate the time when orchid seeds were seen for the first time and the development of a practical asymbiotic method for their germination. The seeds were first observed and drawn during the sixteenth century. Seedlings were first described and illustrated in 1804. The association between orchid and fungi was observed as early as 1824, while the requirement for mycorrhiza for seed germination was established in 1899. An asymbiotic method for orchid seed germination was developed in 1921. After Knudson’s media B and C were formulated, orchids growing and hybridization became widespread. Hybrids which early growers may not have even imagined became possible. Part II A commonly held view is that Prof. Georges Morel is the sole discoverer of orchid micropropagation and that he was the first to culture an orchid shoot tip in 1960. In fact, the first in vitro orchid propagation was carried out by Dr. Gavino Rotor in 1949. Hans Thomale was the first to culture an orchid shoot tip in 1956. The methods used by Morel to culture his shoot tips were developed by others many years before he adapted them to orchids. This review also traces the history of several techniques, additives, and peculiarities (agitated liquid cultures, coconut water, banana pulp, a patent and what appears to be an empty claim) which are associated with orchid micropropagation. A summary of plant hormone history is also outlined because micropropagation could not have been developed without phytohormones.

Antifungal mechanism of SMAP-29 (1-18) isolated from sheep myeloid mRNA against Trichosporon beigelii

The antifungal activity and mechanism of SMAP-29 (1-18) (SMAP-29), a cathelicidin-derived antimicrobial peptide deduced from N-terminal sequence of sheep myeloid mRNA, were investigated. SMAP-29 displayed a strong antifungal activity against various fungi. To understand the antifungal mechanism(s) of SMAP-29, we examined the interaction of SMAP-29 with the pathogenic fungus Trichosporon beigelii. Confocal microscopy showed that SMAP-29 was localized in the plasma membrane. The antifungal effects of SMAP-29 were further confirmed by using 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) as a plasma membrane probe. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that SMAP-29 acted in an energy-dependent manner. This interaction is also dependent on the ionic environment. Furthermore, SMAP-29 caused significant morphological changes when testing the membrane disrupting activity using liposomes (phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol; 10:1, w/w), as shown by scanning electron microscopy. The results suggest that SMAP-29 may exert its antifungal activity by disrupting the structure of cell membranes, via direct interaction with the lipid bilayers and irregularly disrupted fungal membranes in an energy- and salt-dependent manner.     

Strategies to enhance biologically active-secondary metabolites in cell cultures of Artemisia – current trends

The genus Artemisia has been utilized worldwide due to its immense potential for protection against various diseases, especially malaria. Artemisia absinthium, previously renowned for its utilization in the popular beverage absinthe, is gaining resurgence due to its extensive pharmacological activities. Like A. annua, this species exhibits strong biological activities like antimalarial, anticancer and antioxidant. Although artemisinin was found to be the major metabolite for its antimalarial effects, several flavonoids and terpenoids are considered to possess biological activities when used alone and also to synergistically boost the bioavailability of artemisinin. However, due to the limited quantities of these metabolites in wild plants, in vitro cultures were established and strategies have been adopted to enhance medicinally important secondary metabolites in these cultures. This review elaborates on the traditional medicinal uses of Artemisia species and explains current trends to establish cell cultures of A. annua and A. absinthium for enhanced production of medicinally important secondary metabolites.     

Hormonal activities of 5-aminolevulinic acid in callus induction and micropropagation

The role of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) as a precursor of chlorophyll and a herbicide is well documented. 5-ALA as a Plant Growth substance is also proven in recent times. In the present report, to elucidate the physiological effects of 5-ALA, the compound was used in in vitro studies using MS medium supplemented with 5-ALA at 2, 5 and 10 mg l^-1. Leaf and cotyledonary node were used as the explants. In vitro studies confirmed the hormonal role of 5-ALA by striking proliferation of callus paripassu induction of rooting and shooting with a profound effect of the former than the latter. Thus, 5-ALA has the dual properties of auxin and cytokinin in the induction of callusing and rhizogenesis, and shooting respectively.     

Relationships among cytokinins, ethylene and poly amines during the stratification-germination process in seeds of Acer saccharum

Relatively high levels of dihydrozeatin and trans-zeatin were detected in unstratified seeds of Acer saccharum Marsh. Both cytokinins increased substantially over the first 20 days of stratification at 5°C and then fell rapidly to values well below original levels by first germination on day 55. In seeds held at 20°C, a non-afterripening temperature, cytokinin levels remained constant for the first 10 days and then declined to their lowest levels by day 20. Levels of putrescine, spermidine and spermine in the radicles and cotyledons did not change during the full course of the afterripening process, but large increments were noted during radicle emergence. A large increase in ethylene production at germination suggests that competition for S-adenosyl-methionine by the ethylene and polyamine biosynthetic pathways did not inhibit synthesis of ethylene or polyamines during seedling emergence and establishment. In seeds stratified at 20°C, ethylene showed an exceptionally large peak early in the stratification period, but polyamine contents remained low throughout the test. The present results are consistent with the hypothesis that cytokinins play a significant role in overcoming the metabolic block present in dormant seeds. This conclusion is supported by data showing that high levels of cytokinins develop concurrently with the start of tissue differentiation and at the time when abscisic acid and phenolic inhibitors decline in stratifying seeds. Changes in ethylene and polyamine contents did not correlate with any events in the afterripening process; however, large increases in levels of these substances were closely associated with the germinative process and, in the case of polyamines, specifically with the start of cell division.     

Rapid in vitro propagation,conservation and analysis of genetic stability of Viola pilosa

A protocol for in vitro propagation was developed for Viola pilosa, a plant of immense medicinal value. To start with in vitro propagation, the sterilized explants (buds) were cultured on MS basal medium supplemented with various concentrations of growth regulators. One of the medium compositions MS basal + 0.5 mg/l BA + 0.5 mg/l TDZ + 0.5 mg/l GA₃ gave best results for in vitro shoot bud establishment. Although the problem of shoot vitrification occurred on this medium but this was overcome by transferring the vitrified shoots on MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/l BA and 0.25 mg/l Kn. The same medium was found to be the best medium for further in vitro shoot multiplication. 100 % root induction from in vitro grown shoots was obtained on half strength MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/l IBA. In vitro formed plantlets were hardened and transferred to soil with 83 % survival. Additionally, conservation of in vitro multiplying shoots was also attempted using two different approaches namely slowing down the growth at low temperature and cryopreservation following vitrification. At low temperature retrieval rate was better at 10 °C than at 4 °C after conservation of in vitro multiplying shoots. In cryopreservation–vitrification studies, the vitrified shoot buds gave maximum retrieval of 41.66 % when they were precooled at 4 °C, while only 16.66 % vitrified shoots were retrieved from those precooled at 10 °C. Genetic stability of the in vitro grown plants was analysed by RAPD and ISSR markers which indicated no somaclonal variation among in vitro grown plants demonstrating the feasibility of using the protocol without any adverse genetical effects.     

Overwintering and growth regulator treatment effects on celery (Apium graveolens L.) flowering and seed production

Celery (Apium graveolens L.) plants cv. Jason overwintered in a polythene tunnel flowered earlier and grew taller than similar plants given a 10-week cold-treatment at 5°C prior to transplanting in the same tunnel in mid-February. However, there was no significant difference in the yield of seeds obtained from both treatments, plants grown at a density of 4m^-2 yielded less seeds than those at 2m^-2, though the yield per unit area was slightly higher from the high density treatment. Treatment with 100 mgl^-1 GA₃ applied twice just prior to flowering and during anthesis increased flower stalk, flower pedicel and stamen length but delayed flower opening and seed ripening and decreased seed set and seed yield. Treatment with a mixture of 1000 mgl^-1 GA₄ and GA₇ plus 1000 mgl^-1 ethephon on three occasions during seed ripening decreased seed yield and reduced seed germination though those seeds capable of germinating were less dormant than seeds from untreated plants. The size distribution of seeds was unaffected by any treatment other than the preseeding spray with GA₃ which reduced the percentage of medium-size seeds.     

An improved micropropagation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spilanthes acmella</Emphasis> L. through transverse thin cell layer culture

An efficient and improved in vitro propagation system for Spilanthes acmella L. using transverse thin cell layer (tTCL) culture system was established. The frequency of shoot regeneration from tTCL nodal segments was affected by concentrations of plant growth regulators and orientation of the explant. MS (Murashige and Skoog in Physiol Plant 15:473–497, 1962) medium with 5.0 mg dm⁻³ BAP was optimal for shoot regeneration. Upon this medium, the explant inoculated in the upright orientation exhibited a high frequency of shoot regeneration (about 97%), and the highest number of shoots (31.5) per explant. The intact node (1.0–1.5 cm) cultured on the same medium had significantly lower shoot multiplication ability with only 4.5 shoots per responsive explant. As compared to BAP alone, the combination of BAP and Kin or NAA did not have positive effects on shoot multiplication from tTCL nodal segments. Rooting of shoots was achieved on growth regulator free full-strength MS medium. Plantlets were transplanted into soil with 90–100% survival rate.     

Margaret Constance Helen Blackler (1902–81)

Cyanobacteria are effective producers of bioactive metabolites, including both acute toxins and potential pharmaceuticals. In the current work, the biological activity of 27 strains of Baltic cyanobacteria representing different taxonomic groups and chemotypes were tested in a wide variety of assays. The cyanobacteria showed strain-specific differences in the induced effects. The extracts from Nodularia spumigena CCNP1401 were active in the highest number of tests, including protease and phosphatase inhibition assays. Four strains from Nostocales and four from Oscillatoriales increased proliferation of mitogen-stimulated human T cells. In antimicrobial assays, Phormidium sp. CCNP1317 (Oscillatoriales) strongly inhibited the growth of six fouling Gammaproteobacteria. The growth of monocotyl Sorghum saccharatum was inhibited by both toxin-producing and ‘non-toxic’ strains. The Baltic cyanobacteria were also found to be a rich source of commercially important enzymes. Among the 19 enzymatic activities tested, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, esterase (C4 and C8), and naphthol-AS-BI-phosphohydrolase were particularly common. In the cyanobacterial extracts, different peptides which may have been responsible for the observed effects were identified using LC-MS/MS. Their structures were classified to microcystins, nodularins, anabaenopeptins, cyanopeptolins, aeruginosins, spumigins and nostocyclopeptides.