Single-cell origin and development of somatic embryos in Picea abies (L.) Karst. (Norway spruce) and P. glauca (Moench) Voss (white spruce)

The origin and development of somatic embryos in calli initiated from immature zygotic embryos of Picea abies (L.) Karst. (Norway spruce) and P. glauca (Moench) Voss (white spruce) was studied. Immature zygotic embryos cultured on callus induction medium produced two types of white calli that were phenotypically different from one another. The callus that proliferated from the hypocotyl region was white to translucent, glossy, mucilaginous and embryogenic. The callus mass which originated from the radicle end was reddish-white, nonmucilaginous and nonembryogenic. Whole mount preparations of the entire explant with two different types of calli showed the presence of embryogenic cells in the mucilaginous callus mass derived from the hypocotyl region of the zygotic embryo. The origin of somatic embryos in both Norway and white spruce could be traced to single cells of the hypocotyl callus.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - BAP 6-benzylaminopurine     

Effects of Auxins and 2,3,5-Triiodobenzoic Acid on Somatic Embryo Initiation from Norway Spruce Zygotic Embryos (Picea abies)

Embryonal-suspensor mass (ESM) initiation from zygotic embryo sections was not affected by explant orientation whatever the type of external auxin used. Thus, polar auxin transport might not be directly involved in the control of somatic embryo formation. Application of 40 µM 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) suppressed ESM initiation in hypocotyl sections. This effect of TIBA mimicked that of a supraoptimal dose of -naphtaleneacetic acid suggesting a detrimental effect of fast internal auxin accumulation on ESM initiation.     

High-frequency somatic embryogenesis from germinated zygotic embryos of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Schisandra chinensis</Emphasis> and evaluation of the effects of medium strength,sucrose, GA<Subscript>3</Subscript>, and BA on somatic embryo development

We developed a new protocol for highly efficient somatic embryogenesis and plantlet conversion of Schisandra chinensis. Friable embryogenic callus was induced from cotyledonary leaves and hypocotyls of germinated zygotic embryos on Murashige and Skoog (MS) agar medium containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Preculture of zygotic embryos on 2,4-D-containing medium increased embryogenic callus induction efficiency. The highest embryogenic callus induction frequency of 56.7% was obtained from shoot apical meristem-containing hypocotyl explants from 1-week-old germinated embryos on MS medium containing 4.0 mg l⁻¹ 2,4-D. Embryogenic callus proliferation, somatic embryo (SE) formation, and subsequent plantlet conversion occurred under optimal culture conditions. The effects of MS medium strength, sucrose, gibberellic acid (GA₃), and 6-benzyladenine (BA) on SE formation and plantlet conversion were evaluated. Low MS medium strength (1/4 to 1/2) was necessary for SE formation, and the optimal sucrose concentration was 2.0%. Supplementing medium with GA₃ negatively impacted SE formation and subsequent development. BA significantly increased the number of SEs and the plantlet conversion capacity. One-third-strength MS medium with 1.0% sucrose and 0.5 mg l⁻¹ BA produced the highest number of SEs (309 embryos from 9 mg embryogenic callus) and the highest frequency of plantlet conversion from germinated SEs (52.6%). When transplanted to soil, 90% of the regenerated plants developed into normal plants.     

Scale-up of somatic embryogenesis in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) I subculture and indirect secondary somatic embryogenisis

Three methods of increasing the productivity of somatic embryogenesis in Medicago sativa L. were investigated. In the basic procedure, somatic embryos were initiated from young petioles and carried through several phases: callus formation, suspension culture, selection of the embryogenic fraction by sieving, development, maturation, desiccation and storage. The suspensions were normally separated into three fractions by sieving. Fraction I (<200 m) containing nonembryogenic cells or cell clusters was discarded. Fraction II (200–500 m) consisting of embryogenic cell clusters was collected for embryo development and maturation. Fraction III (over 500 M) containing the mixture of petiole residues with large pieces of calli and globular somatic embryos was usually discarded. Several methods to scale-up the suspension phase were unsuccessful. Direct subculture of the entire suspension by the addition of fresh liquid medium resulted in the loss of embryogenic capacity by the third subculture. Subculture of fraction II decreased embryogenic cell mass, and hence reduced total productivity. The recycling of fraction III back to fresh B₅g liquid medium resulted in high productivity in the first culture but further subculture of this fraction resulted in a rapid decline in the embryogenic capacity.As an alternative, somatic embryos from the first tissue culture cycle were also used as explants for the initiation of secondary embryogenic callus. The embryogenic capacity of these somatic embryo explants declined rapidly as they matured. More than 100 secondary somatic embryos could be induced from embryo explants removed from development medium at 10 days after sieving the suspension, but only 40 somatic embryos were produced from each mature somatic embryo explant, and 13 from desiccated embryos. The secondary somatic embryos were comparable to the primary embryos in quality according to germination tests. The implications of the results to the efficiency of somatic embryo production of Medicago are discussed.Abbreviations ABA abscisic acid - 2,4-d 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - DAS days after sieving - PPF photosynthetic photon flux density - SE somatic embryo     

杉木未成熟胚胚性愈伤组织诱导影响因素探析

该研究从基因型、6-BA浓度、外植体接种方式和合子胚发育阶段等方面,分析杉木未成熟胚胚性愈伤组织诱导的影响因素。结果表明:基因型、6-BA浓度、外植体接种方式和合子胚发育阶段均对胚性愈伤组织诱导频率有不同程度影响。6种基因型中,有3种基因型诱导出胚性愈伤组织,其中基因型S18胚性愈伤组织诱导频率最高,为11.7%。6-BA浓度在1.0~1.5 mg·L~(-1)范围内时,基因型S18的胚性组织诱导频率较高。以在去皮种子的一端切开一个小口的接种方式为最优,将合子胚剥出的方式易造成合子胚褐化死亡,将未剥皮的种子切开一个小口后直接接入培养基的方式不利于愈伤组织生成。适合胚性愈伤组织诱导的合子胚发育阶段为受精至胚器官分化阶段,合子胚进入成熟阶段后不利于胚性愈伤组织诱导,合子胚易生长成完整植株。     

Effects of kanamycin on tissue culture and somatic embryogenesis in cotton

The aminoglycoside antibiotic kanamycin was evaluated for its effects on callus initiation from hypocotyl and cotyledon explants, proliferation of non-embryogenic and embryogenic calli, initiation and development of somatic embryos in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). On this basis, the potential use of kanamycin as a selective agent in genetic transformation with the neomycin phosphotransferase II gene as the selective marker gene was evaluated. Cotton cotyledon and hypocotyl explants, and embryogenic calluses were highly sensitive to kanamycin. Kanamycin at 10 mg/L or higher concentrations reduced callus formation, with complete inhibition at 60 mg/L. Kanamycin inhibited embryogenic callus growth and proliferation, as well as the initiation and development of cotton somatic embryos. The sensitivity of embryogenic callus and somatic embryos to kanamycin was different during the initiation and development stages. Kanamycin was considered as a suitable selective agent for transformed callus formation and growth of non-embryogenic callus. Forty to sixty mg/L was the optimal kanamycin concentration for the induction and proliferation of transformed callus. The concentration of kanamycin must be increased (from 50 to 200 mg/L) for the selection of transformation embryogenic callus and somatic embryos. A scheme for selection of transgenic cotton plants when kanamycin is used as the selection agent is discussed.     

Regeneration from intact and sectioned immature embryos of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.): the scutellum exhibits an apico-basal gradient of embryogenic capacity

Immature zygotic embryos from spring barley cv. Dissa were used to induce somatic embryogenenesis. Up to 158 germinated somatic embryos could be recovered per plated zygotic embryo. Critical factors for obtaining a high yield of regenerants were the size of the explant, the level of 2,4-D used for callus induction and the careful division of callus at each subculture. Use of microsections of immature embryos as explants revealed a pronounced gradient of callus formation and embryogenic response across the scutellum. Sections from the scutellar tissue at the coleoptilar end of the embryo gave the most callus and were highly embryogenic. The regeneration response of sectioned explants was comparable to that recovered from intact embryos of similar size.     

速生湿地松良种胚性愈伤组织诱导与增殖

为使速生湿地松良种快速大规模繁殖,对其胚性愈伤组织进行诱导和增殖优化研究.该文以1代湿地松种子园中10个速生湿地松优良无性系(基因型)的未成熟合子胚为外植体,系统研究基因型、合子胚发育阶段、基本培养基、植物生长调节剂种类和浓度等不同因子对胚性愈伤组织诱导效率的影响,探讨胚性愈伤组织的增殖条件.结果表明:基因型、合子胚发...     

Progress towards initiation of somatic embryogenesis from differentiated tissues of radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) using cotyledonary embryos

Green cones of radiata pine were collected from two open-pollinated, elite families in two successive years at weekly intervals, and initiation of embryogenic cultures was investigated as a function of sampling date, initiation medium, explant type, and developmental stage. A combination of dissected embryos and a modified Litvay medium, Glitz, was best. This combination gave the highest rate of initiation, and it was possible to initiate somatic embryogenesis (SE) from differentiated cells in the epicotyledonary region of post-cotyledonary zygotic embryos from the two tested families with an average initiation rate of approximately 24% and 7% from stage five and six embryos, respectively. This is different from established initiation protocols of embryogenic cultures in radiata pine, which has traditionally been based on embryo rescue and continued proliferation of immature zygotic embryos. A further implication of initiation of SE from excised post-cotyledonary embryos was that the period of initiation of embryogenic cultures was extended from 4 to 12 wk.     

Somatic embryogenesis from immature zygotic embryos of annatto (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bixa orellana</Emphasis> L.)

Summary In order to establish a protocol for somatic embryogenesis of annatto, Bixa orellana L., seeds (70 d after anthesis) from field-grown orchards had their coats dissected off, and immature zygotic embryos were excised aseptically from immature seeds collected from field-grown trees and used as explants. Embryos were cultured onto MS medium supplemented with or without different combinations of plant growth regulators and activated charcoal. Direct somatic embryogenesis was induced on explants incubated either in Murashige and Skoog (MS), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), and/or kinetin-supplemented media after 25 d of culture. The highest frequencies of embryogenesis and embryos per explant were obtained on medium containing 2.26 μM 2.4-D, 4.52μM kinetin, and 1.0 gl⁻¹ activated charcoal. The presence of charcoal was critical in increasing embryos per explant, to reduce the time to obtain somatic embryos, and mainly to prevent callus proliferation and subsequent indirect somatic embryogenesis. No embryogenic response was achieved when mature embryos were used. It was also observed that embryogenic response was significantly affected by genotype. Histological investigations revealed that primary direct somatic embryos differentiated exclusively from the protodermis or together with the outer ground meristem cell layers of the zygotic embryo axis, and from the protodermis of zygotic cotyledons. Diverse morphological differences, including malformed embryos, were observed among somatic embryos. In spite of the high frequencies of histodifferentiation of all embryo stages, a very low conversion frequency to normal plants from somatic embryos was observed.     

Enhancing initiation and proliferation in radiata pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus radiata</Emphasis> D. Don) somatic embryogenesis through seed family screening,zygotic embryo staging and media adjustments

In Pinus spp., initiation of somatic embryogenesis (SE) is influenced by the developmental stage of immature embryos, the genotype of the parent trees and the formulation of tissue culture medium. Optimizing all these factors can lead to improved initiation and proliferation response; however, few studies have focused on improving these stages. For this reason, the objectives of this research were to determine the best immature zygotic embryo developmental stage for initiation and to test the effect of different sources of organic nitrogen in the initiation and proliferation steps in Pinus radiata SE. We have determined and verified the optimum zygotic embryo developmental stages 2–4 for embryogenic tissue (ET) initiation and proliferation and identified the most responsive seed families in two consecutive years. Besides EDM (Walter et al. 1998), medium with high gellan gum content during ET proliferation maintained the embryogenic tissue in a better micro-morphological arrangement for a longer time.     

Morphology and Anatomy of Pisum Sativum Somatic Embryos

The morphological and anatomical aspects of direct and indirect somatic embryogenesis in pea were described. Direct embryos were induced from shoot apical meristems of 3 to 5-d-old pea seedlings, embryogenic callus originated from immature pea zygotic embryos or shoot apices. Auxin (picloram, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) was necessary to induce somatic embryos. The developmental stages typical for pea zygotic embryos were detected. Globular and heartshaped somatic embryos were morphologically similar to their zygotic counterparts; in contrast, torpedo and cotyledonary somatic embryos displayed great morphological variation, which affected mainly cotyledons (size, shape, number). Based on anatomical sections, possible ways of somatic embryo formation and localization of initiation sites within primary explant tissue have been proposed. The multicellular origin of somatic embryos is supposed in both systems of pea somatic embryogenesis under investigation.     

Enhancement of somatic embryogenesis in camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora L.): osmotic stress and other factors affecting somatic embryo formation on hormone-free medium

The aim of this study was to improve the direct somatic embryogenesis and initiate embryogenic callus formation in camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora L.) on hormone-free medium. The influence of osmotic stress pretreatment of immature zygotic embryos (0.5 and 1.0 M solution of sucrose for 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, and 144 h at 4 or 25°C) before cultured on hormone-free medium, on embryogenesis efficiency was assessed. The embryogenesis frequency was improved from 16.29 to 93.27%, while the average number of somatic embryos per explant increased from 3 to 12.57. Activated charcoal (AC), medium renewal, basal medium, light conditions and sucrose concentration in culture medium were also evaluated for their effect on somatic embryogenesis. AC addition and 10-day medium renewal did not increase embryogenesis efficiency significantly, and Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium proved to be more beneficial for somatic embryo formation than others. No differences were found between embryogenesis frequencies when cultured in darkness or under light, but culturing under light yielded more embryos. After the sucrose solution pretreatment, high level concentration of sucrose in induction medium was not needed for somatic embryogenesis, for it had a negative effect on somatic embryo formation when the concentration of sucrose was higher than 50 g l⁻¹. The derived embryogenic lines were maintained via repetitive embryogenesis on hormone-free medium. Low ratio formation of embryogenic callus was observed on the surface of somatic embryos both on induction and proliferation medium. Plantlets derived from somatic embryos grew vigorously with normal appearance similar to germinated zygotic embryos.     

Effect of genotype on somatic embryogenesis from axes of mature peanut embryos

Genotypes representing the three botanical varieties of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) were assessed for somatic embryogenesis and subsequent plant conversion from mature zygotic embryo axes. Explants were initially cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 12.42 M 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid. Individual somatic embryos wer isolated from explant tissue and used to initiate repetitive liquid cultures. There were significant differences among genotypes and varieties for somatic embryo formation and plant regeneration using a single media sequence. Botanical variety fastigiata had a lower embryogenic frequency and produced significantly fewer embryos than either hypogaea or vulgaris, which were similar in response.Abbreviations EA zygotic embryo axes - MS Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium - picloram 4-amino-3,5 - 6 trichloropicolinic acid     

A protoplast-to-tree system in Microcitrus based on protoplasts derived from a sustained embryogenic callus

Adventitious embryos derived from a zygotic embryo in an in vitro cultured ovule of Microcitrus were transferred several times on solidified medium containing benzyladenine and 3-indoleacetyl-L-alanine to induce embryogenic callus. This callus was maintained for several years on medium devoid of growth regulators without losing its embryogenic capacity. Exposure of this callus to maceration enzymes led to protoplast suspensions. Purified protoplasts were plated in solid medium devoid of growth regulators. Somatic embryos were derived efficiently from individual protoplasts and most of these could be regenerated into mature trees bearing normal flowers and typical fruits. This system differs from the Citrus protoplast-to-tree system. In the latter embryogenic callus was derived from the nucellus of polyembryonic species while Microcitrus is monoembryonic and required hormone-induced callus formation from proliferating zygotic embryos.Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel. No. 1808-E, 1986 series     

Plant regeneration through somatic embryogenesis from callus induced on immature embryos of Alstroemeria spp. L.

Summary The plant regeneration ability of callus obtained from zygotic embryos of the monocot Alstroemeria spp. was studied. The best explants for somatic embryogenesis were immature zygotic embryos in half-ovules when the endosperm was still soft and white. For 2 genotypes embryogenic callus was induced on callus induction medium with a success rate of 54%. The best callus induction period was 10 weeks. The morphology of embryogenic callus was nodular. Somatic embryos were formed after transfer of the callus to regeneration medium. These somatic embryos revealed later on the typical features of zygotic Alstroemeria embryos. The total duration of the plant regeneration protocol, from inoculation till rooted plantlets ready for transfer to the greenhouse, was 28 weeks.Abbreviations BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - MS Murashige and Skoog (1962) - NAA -naphthaleneacetic acid     

Norway spruce somatic embryogenesis: high-frequency initiation from light-cultured mature embryos

Somatic embryos and rooted plantlets have been regenerated from light-initiated embryogenic callus derived from mature embryos of Picea abies. Under a 16 h photoperiod, mature zygotic embryos were cultured on a modified half-strength Murashige & Skoog medium without NH₄NO₃ and supplemented with 5 mM glutamine, 4.5 M N6-benzyladenine and 10.7 M naphthaleneacetic acid or 10 M 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. White translucent embryogenic callus, proliferating from the callusing hypocotyl region after 3 weeks incubation, was isolated from the green non-embryogenic tissue and subcultured for over 12 months. Upon transfer of the embryogenic callus through a specific sequence of media, somatic embryos proceeded to mature, elongating and forming rings of cotyledonary leaves similar to those of zygotic embryos. Transferred to medium without growth regulators, the somatic embryos germinated and produced plantlets with green cotyledons, elongated hypocotyls and primary roots.     

Herbicide resistant transgenic papaya plants produced by an efficient particle bombardment transformation method

A system for the production of transgenic papaya (Carica papaya L.) plants using zygotic embryos and embryogenic callus as target cells for particle bombardment is described. Phosphinothricin (bar ) and kanamycin (npt II) resistance genes were used as selectable markers, and the gus gene (uidA) as a reporter gene. Selection with 100 mg/l kanamycin and 4 mg/l phosphinothricin (PPT) yielded a total of over 90 resistant embryogenic colonies from three independent experiments using embryogenic callus as a target tissue. This represents an efficiency of 60 transgenic clones per gram of fresh weight callus bombarded. The efficiency of genetic transformation using zygotic embryos was lower, as only 8 independent resistant clones were recovered out of 645 bombarded zygotic embryos, giving a efficiency of 1.24%. Subsequent subculture of transgenic somatic embryos both from zygotic embryos and embryogenic callus led to the development of plants with apparently normal morphology. Histological, fluorimetric assay for GUS, NPT II assay and DNA analysis (Southern hybridization) showed that kanamycin /PPT resistant plants carried and expressed the transgenes.Abbreviations Gus -glucuronidase - NPTII neomycin phophotransferase II - bar phophinothricin acetyl transferase gene - Pat phosphinothricin acetyl transferase - PPT phosphinothricin - Km kanamycin - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - K kinetin - BAP benzylaminopurine - IBA indolbutyric acid     

Comparative study of somatic embryogenesis from immature and mature embryos and organogenesis from leaf-base of Triticale

Immature and mature zygotic embryos of hexaploid, Triticale var. DT-46 formed an embryogenic callus, with subsequent somatic embryo formation upon subculture to MS (Murashige and Skoog, 1962) or N₆ (Chu et al., 1975) nutrient medium supplemented with various concentrations (9.0–22.5 M) of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Of the two types of explants, embryogenic tissue from immature embryos responded at a higher frequency, to form somatic embryos over the callus surface. Leaf-base segment cultured on to 2,4-D-containing medium formed a tissue which did not form somatic embryos and instead differentiated into shoot-buds. N₆ medium proved to be more effective than MS in support of somatic embryogenesis or shoot-bud formation. Regeneration of plantlets occurred on 2,4-D-free basal medium. These in vitro-formed plantlets were successfully transferred to soil and set seed.     

Enhancement of somatic embryogenesis in Norway spruce (Picea abies L.)

Summary Embryogenic callus developed in 55% of the mature embryo explants of Norway spruce (Picea abies L.) growing on a LP medium minus the amino acids and sugars (except sucrose). This is the highest reported yield of embryogenic callus from mature embryos of P. abies that has ever been reported. Callus induction from either the middle or the end of the hypocotyl of the embryos began after 2–3 weeks. Three types of calli were recovered: (a) globular, (b) light green-compact, (c) white mucilaginous. Only the white mucilaginous calli were embryogenic. The globular and light green-compact calli never become embryogenic, even after several subcultures. The development of somatic embryos was accomplished on half-strength macro-elements of NSIII medium containing 1 M -naphthaleneacetic acid, 1 M abscisic acid, and 3% sucrose. The addition of 10^–7 M buthionine sulfoximine to the medium increased the development of somatic embryos by three fold. These results suggest that there is a great potential for increasing the frequency and development of somatic embryos in P. abies. Careful selection of the genotype and modification of the culture medium is required.