Secondary somatic embryogenesis of cassava on picloram supplemented media

The object of this study was to evaluate different strategies for the production of secondary somatic embryos of cassava on picloram-supplemented media. Embryogenically competent calli maintained on double-strength Murashige and Skoog (1962) (MS) medium supplemented with 1 mg l⁻¹ picloram were used as starting material. Secondary embryogenesis from this callus was tested using various basal salt media in either the solid or the liquid state and containing two different concentrations of picloram. Some of the factors effecting the conversion of the embryos into plantlets were also studied. A liquid Schenck and Hildebrand (1972) medium containing 60 g l⁻¹ sucrose and 12 mg l⁻¹ picloram favoured the continual production of a highly embryogenic nodular callus. The normal development of somatic embryos from this tissue was dependant on the use of a picloram-free MS basal salt medium. The embryos were desiccated over a saturated salt solution of K₂SO₄ (RH 97.5% at 25 °C) and allowed to develop into plantlets on a MS medium containing 0.1 mg l⁻¹ BA. This procedure allowed for the normal elongation of the embryonic hypocotyl and formation of vigorous and viable shoots and roots. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The use of embryo culture for the recovery of plants from cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) seeds

Cassava fertility and seed viability are frequently low, which can be a disadvantage in a breeding programme. An embryo culture method is described whereby embryonic axes are excised from mature seeds and placed on a culture medium containing 1.23 M indolebutyric acid (IBA) at 30°C under continuous light. The number of plants recovered by embryo culture was much greater than the number recovered from conventional seed germination procedures.     

The use of somatic embryogenesis for plant propagation in cassava

In cassava, somatic embryogenesis starts with the culture of leaf explants on solid Murashige and Skoog-based medium supplemented with auxins. Mature somatic embryos are formed within 6 wk. The cotyledons of the primary somatic embryos are used as explants for a new cycle of somatic embryogenesis. The cotyledons undergo secondary somatic embryogenesis on both liquid and solid Murashige and Skoog-based medium supplemented with auxins. Depending on the auxin, new somatic embryos are formed after 14–30 d after which they can be used for a new cycle of somatic embryogenesis. In liquid medium, more than 20 secondary somatic embryos are formed per initial cultured embryo. In both primary and secondary somatic embryogenesis, the somatic embryos originate directly from the explants. Transfer of clumps of somatic embryos to a Greshoff and Doy-based medium supplemented with auxins results in indirect somatic embryogenesis. The direct form of somatic embryogenesis has a high potential for use in plant propagation, whereas the indirect has a high potential for use in genetic modification of cassava. Mature somatic embryos germinate into plants after desiccation and culture on a Murashige and Skoog-based medium supplemented with benzylaminopurine (BA). Depending on the used BA concentration, plants can either be transferred either directly to the greenhouse or after using standard multiplication protocols.     

Genotype effects on proliferative embryogenesis and plant regeneration of soybean

Summary Proliferative somatic embryogenesis is a regeneration system suitable for mass propagation and genetic transformation of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. The objective of this study was to examine genotypic effects on induction and maintenance of proliferative embryogenic cultures, and on yield, germination, and conversion of mature somatic embryos. Somatic embryos were induced from eight genotypes by explanting 100 immature cotyledons per genotype on induction medium. Differences in frequency of induction were observed among genotypes. However, this step was not limiting for plant regeneration because induction frequency in the least responding genotype was sufficient to initiate and maintain proliferative embryogenic cultures. Six genotypes selected for further study were used to initiate embryogenic cultures in liquid medium. Cultures were evaluated for propagation of globular-stage tissue in liquid medium, yield of cotyledon-stage somatic embryos on differentiation medium, and plant recovery of cotyledon-stage embryos. Genotypes also differed for weight and volume increase of embryogenic tissue in liquid cultures, for yield of cotyledon-stage embryos on differentiation medium, and for plant recovery from cotyledon-stage embryos. Rigorous selection for a proliferative culture phenotype consisting of nodular, compact, green spheres increased embryo yield over that of unselected cultures, but did not affect the relative ranking of genotypes. In summary, the genotypes used in this study differed at each stage of plant regeneration from proliferative embryogenic cultures, but genotypic effects were partially overcome by protocol modifications.     

Some features of somatic embryo maturation of algerian fir

Summary Maturation of Abies numidica De Lann. somatic embryos was tested on media with abseisic acid and various maltose and polyethylene glycol-4000 concentrations. The effect of basal medium and subculture period on maturation was also examined. The maturation of somatic embryos was promoted by polyethylene glycol-4000, at 7.5–10%. Three to 6% maltose significantly enhanced the yield of mature embryos. The most effective somatic embryo maturation occurred when embryogenictissue was transferred to maturation medium after 14–21 d cultivation on proliferation medium. The ability for A. numidica cultures to form cotyledonary somatic embryos was assessed over a period of 3 yr. Plantlets germinated on half-strength SH (Schenk and Hildebrandt) medium with charcoal and survived transfer to the soil.     

Somatic embryo initiation and germination in diploid cotton (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gossypium arboreum</Emphasis> L.)

Summary The diploid cotton species can constitute a valuable gene pool for the more agronomically desirable cultivated tetraploid cultivars and offer better opportunities to study gene structure and function through gene knockouts. In order to exploit these advantages, a regeneration system is required to achieve these transformation-based goals. Carbohydrate source and concentration were evaluated to improve somatic embryo (SE) production and desiccation treatments to improve the conversion efficiency of SEs to plants in a diploid Gossypium arboreum accession, A₂-9 (PI-529712). Improved SE numbers and their subsequent conversion into plantlets was achieved with a Murashige and Skoog (MS)/sucrose-based medium M₂ [0.04M sucrose, 0.3 μM α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA)] On this medium, 219 embryos per g initiated, and close to 11% of these embryos germinated into plantlets. Neither a 5-d desiccation treatment of embryogenic callus previously cultured in liquid medium nor filter paper insertion improved the numbers of SEs induced or their conversion to plantlets. A 3-d desiccation period resulted in improved plant regeneration. When immature G. arboreum SEs induced on M₁ (0.2M glucose, 2.6 μM NAA, and 0.2 μM kinetin) medium underwent a 3-d desiccation treatment, 49% of these immature SEs were converted to plantlets after a 4-wk period on M₂ medium. These improved results will help to pave the way for future genetic transformation and associated gene structure and function studies utilizing G. arboreum. These results, in particular the 3-d desiccation treatment, can also be incorporated into regeneration protocols to improve the regeneration efficiency of other Gossypium species.     

A methodology for recovering cassava plants from shoot tips maintained in liquid nitrogen

Shoot tips of in vitro-grown plantlets of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), representing a wide range of germplasm, were cryopreserved as follows: pre-cultured for 3 days, cryoprotected and dehydrated for 1 h, then frozen in liquid nitrogen using a six-step protocol. After 3 h in liquid nitrogen, the shoot tips were removed, rapidly warmed, and recultured sequentially in three recovery media. After 2 weeks, the regeneration of frozen shoot tips was completed. Genotypes with a low response were identified. Their response was attributed to the effects of pre and post-freezing steps. Refining the methodology led to a consistent 50–70% plant recovery.Abbreviations DMSO Dimethylsulfoxide - MS Murashige and Skoog medium (1962) - LN liquid nitrogen     

Proliferation and maintenance of embryogenic capacity in elm embryogenic cultures

Summary This paper investigates maintenance and proliferation of somatic embryogenesis systems for Ulmus minor and U. glabra. Proliferation occurred with subculture of embryogenic calluses. The calluses were mainly formed by friable nodules composed of meristematic cells organized into proembryogenic cell masses (PEMs) and thin-walled vacuolated parenchymatic cells. Cotyledonary embryos, with procambial strands and differentiation of their vascular tissues as well as visible root meristems, were identifiable after 18d of culture on a proliferation medium with 0.44 μM benzyladenine (BA). The shoot meristem was only occasionally well developed. Somatic embryo multiplication from elm embryogenic calluses is a clearly asynchronic system, and PEMs as well as embryos at all stages of development are observed simultaneously at the end of subculture period. Factors affecting the proliferation of elm embryogenic callus, such as culture medium, carbon source and genotype, were studied. Basal medium (MS) or medium supplemented with 0.44 μM BA produced the highest number of somatic embryos. Somatic embryo production was higher with sucrose or glucose than with maltose, and significant differences were also found among the four embryogenic lines tested. The use of liquid medium with filter paper support is an essential step for the survival of isolated somatic embryos during the germination stage. The addition of 0.22 μM BA′ to liquid MS medium was the best treatment for germination and plantlet conversion of elm somatic embryos.     

Somatic embryogenesis of Panax ginseng in liquid cultures: a role for polyamines and their metabolic pathways

A callus with embryogenic capacity was generated fromroot sections of Panax ginseng and used as aninoculum source for embryogenic liquid cultures in athree-step process: – a suspension culture of cellaggregates in the presence of an auxin/cytokininmixture, – an induction medium containing auxin only(for 5 to 30 days), – a regeneration medium containingcytokinin only (for one month). Up to 25 embryos wererecovered per 2.5 g of aggregates in these conditions.Incorporation of polyamines or their precursorsarginine and ornithine into either the induction orregeneration media increased the number of embryosproduced by up to 4 times. Inhibitors of bothbiosynthesis and biodegradation of polyamines reducedthe number of embryos. These results support earlierfindings of the role of polyamines in the process ofsomatic embryogenesis. The success of these liquidcultures opens up the possibility of producing somaticembryos of Panax ginseng in bioreactors.     

木薯FER基因家族的全基因组鉴定和表达分析

植物铁蛋白(Ferritin, FER)既能存储铁,又能响应各种非生物胁迫。该研究基于全基因组水平对木薯(Manihot esculenta)的FER基因家族进行分析,结果表明,从木薯中共鉴定到4个FER基因,根据系统发育树将木薯FER基因划分为2支,所有成员均包含Euk＿Ferritin的功能结构域并位于叶绿体内。木薯FERs基因位于LG7～LG10染色体上;基因共线性分析表明,共有3对潜在的复制基因对,无串联重复事件;Ka/Ks值表明,MeFER同源基因经过了纯化选择;该家族含有响应激素和胁迫诱导的顺式作用元件;q RT-PCR分析表明,MeFER基因的表达具有组织特异性,MeFER4基因响应多种胁迫,且在干旱胁迫下响应最为显著。该研究为木薯FER基因家族的功能研究奠定了基础。     

Modulation of somatic embryogenesis in early and late-stage embryos of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under the influence of (±)-abscisic acid and its analogs

Zygotic embryos from ten spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes were tested for embryogenic callus induction in the presence or absence of externally supplied (±)-abscisic acid (ABA) and two of its analogs, methyl abscisate and methyl epoxy-beta-ionylideneacetate. (±)-ABA and its analogs suppressed precocious germination of cultured late-stage embryos and promoted embryogenic callus induction. A significantly greater number of plants was regenerated from calli induced in the presence of ABA and ABA analogs. Early-stage embryos when cultured in the presence of (±)-ABA showed a negative response. Possible roles of ABA with respect to the expression of somatic embryogenesis are discussed.Dedicated to Dr. Friedrich Constabel on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

渗透剂对白刺花体细胞胚成熟及萌发的影响

该研究以蔗糖、麦芽糖、山梨醇及PEG(6000)为渗透剂,探讨了不同渗透剂对白刺花体细胞胚发育、胚成熟及萌发的影响。结果表明:白刺花下胚轴形成的胚性愈伤组织接种至MS+2,4-D 0.2 mg·L~(-1)+NAA 1.0 mg·L~(-1)+6-BA 2.0 mg·L~(-1)+TDZ 1.0 mg·L~(-1)+蔗糖40 g·L~(-1)+谷氨酰胺100 mg·L~(-1)+植物凝胶3g·L~(-1)的培养基上,体细胞胚发生率高达66. 21%,总胚数为79个; 7%蔗糖可使体细胞胚成熟率高达64.36%,同时也可提高多子叶畸形胚形成; 2%麦芽糖+2%山梨醇+4%蔗糖组合使体细胞胚成熟率最高达88.89%,畸形胚比例最低; 30 g·L~(-1)PEG培养时,体细胞成熟率最高,为82.35%;鱼雷期的体细胞胚最合适转接,可使体胚萌发率达90.58%,复合糖上培养得到的成熟体细胞胚生根率最高,为87.47%。这为实现白刺花体细胞胚育苗奠定了理论基础,并提供了可行的方案。