Micropropagation ofPenstemon serrulatus and iridoid formation in regenerated plants

A method for the micropropagation ofPenstemon serrulatus Menz. from shoot tips or nodal segments was developed. Multiple microshoot cultures (up to 20 shoots from a single explant) were obtained by maintenance of shoot tip explants on Schenk & Hildebrandt medium (SH) supplemented with 4.4 µM benzyladenine (BA) or 8.9 µM BA and 0.57 µM indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Microshoots developed into numerous, normal shoots when explants were transferred to SH medium containing 2.9 µM IAA or 2.5 µM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Shoot cultures were also established from nodal segments (max. 6.8 shoots per segment) when they were placed on SH medium with 0.49 µM IBA and 2.2 µM BA. Rooting of shoots was better on SH medium containing auxin (IBA, NAA or IAA) than on SH medium without growth regulators. The plantlets were then transferred to pots and grown in the greenhouse. Four-month-old regenerated plants demonstrated similar iridoid content (leaves contained 3.83% dry wt. penstemide and 1.8% dry wt. serrulatoloside) as the original plants.     

High-frequency plant regeneration from leaf-disc cultures of Jatropha curcas L.: an important biodiesel plant

A simple, high-frequency and reproducible protocol for induction of adventitious shoot buds and plant regeneration from leaf-disc cultures of Jatropha curcas L. has been developed. Adventitious shoot buds were induced from very young leaf explants of in vitro germinated seedlings as well as mature field-grown plants cultured on Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium supplemented with thidiazuron (TDZ) (2.27 μM), 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) (2.22 μM) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) (0.49 μM). The presence of TDZ in the induction medium has greater influence on the induction of adventitious shoot buds, whereas BA in the absence of TDZ promoted callus induction rather than shoot buds. Induced shoot buds were multiplied and elongated into shoots following transfer to the MS medium supplemented with BA (4.44 μM), kinetin (Kn) (2.33 μM), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) (1.43 μM), and gibberellic acid (GA₃) (0.72 μM). Well-developed shoots were rooted on MS medium supplemented with IBA (0.5 μM) after 30 days. Regenerated plants after 2 months of acclimatization were successfully transferred to the field without visible morphological variation. This protocol might find use in mass production of true-to-type plants and in production of transgenic plants through Agrobacterium/biolistic-mediated transformation.     

Micropropagation of Bixa orellana using phytohormones and triacontanol

An efficient micropropagation protocol for annatto (Bixa orellana L.) was achieved using nodal shoot tip explants. Shoot buds were obtained on the Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with various concentrations and combinations of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), N⁶-benzyladenine (BA) and triacontanol (TRIA). Maximum of 213 shoot buds along with 18 primary shoots were produced on MS medium containing 0.05 μM IAA, 8.87 μM BA, and 11.2 μM TRIA. The primary shoots elongated best on MS medium containing 6.66 μM BA and 2.45 μM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). The regenerated shoots rooted best on MS medium supplemented with 4.9 μM IBA. The in vitro rooted plantlets were hardened and establishment rate under field conditions was 70 to 80 %.     

Effect of phytoregulators and physiological characteristics of the explants on micropropagation of Maytenus ilicifolia

Micropropagated shoots of Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. were obtained from axillary buds cultured in Murashige & Skoog medium supplemented with 13.3 M 6-benzyladenine (BA). Addition of 1.1 M 1-indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) to the medium increased shoot elongation. The number of shoots formed was influenced by BA concentration, degree of juvenility of the explant, and by bud explant position on the stem. Cultures of buds taken from stem parts located close to the shoot tip yielded more callus than shoots, whereas axillary buds at distant positions from the apical bud yielded more shoots.Abbreviations BA 6-benzyladenine - IAA indole-3-acetic-acid     

Organogenesis, shoot regeneration, and flowering response of Vernonia cinerea to different auxin/cytokinin combinations

Summary A viable protocol has been developed for direct and indirect shoot regeneration of Vernonia cinerea. To establish a stable and high-frequency plant regeneration system, leaf and stem explants were tested with different combinations of α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and benzylaminopurine (BA). Lateral buds on nodal explants grew into shoots within 2 wk of culture in Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with 20.9 μM BA. Excision and culture of nodal segments from in vitro-raised shoots on fresh medium with the same concentration of BA facilitated development of more than 15 shoots per node. Similarly leaf, nodal, and internodal explants were cultured on MS basal medium supplemented with different concentrations of BA, NAA, and IAA either alone or in combinations for callus induction and organogenesis. Shoot buds and/or roots were regenerated on callus. Shoot buds formed multiple shoots within 4 wk after incubation in induction medium. Adventitious buds and shoots proliferated when callus was cut into pieces and subcultured on MS basal medium containing 20.9 μM BA and 5.3 μM NAA. This combination proved to be the best medium for enhanced adventitious shoot bud multiplication, generating a maximum of 50 shoots in 4 wk. This medium was also used successfully for shoot proliferation in liquid medium. Root formation was observed from callus induced in medium containing 8.05–13.4 μM NAA. Regenerated shoots exhibited flowering and root formation in MS basal medium without any growth regulators. Plantlets established in the field showed 85% survival and exhibited identical morphological characteristics as the donor plant.     

Stimulation of in vitro shoot proliferation from nodal explants of cassava by thidiazuron, benzyladenine and gibberellic acid

Multiple shoots were produced from nodal explants of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) by a two-step procedure: a 6- to 8-day exposure to 0.11–0.22 µM thidiazuron (TDZ) in liquid Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium followed by culture on agar-solidified MS medium supplemented with 2.2 µM 6-benzyladenine (BA) and 1.6 M gibberellic acid (GA₃). TDZ caused the nodal explants to expand and this expansion (growth) continued during culture with BA and GA₃. From this expanded explant, clusters of buds and fasciated stems developed continuously and these gave rise to shoots. The shoot proliferation process was open-ended, yielding an average of 31.5 shoots per nodal explant after 10 weeks of culture with genotype CG 1–56. A positive response was also obtained from seven other genotypes evaluated with this protocol.Abbreviations BA 6-benzyladenine - BM basal medium - DPU 1,3-diphenylurea - GA₃ gibberellie acid - 2iP isopentenyladenine - MSM multiple shoot medium - NAA 1-naphthaleneacetic acid - PGR plant growth regulator - TDZ thidiazuron - Z zeatin     

Regeneration of `juvenile' plants of black plum,Syzygium cuminii Skeels,from nodal exp of mature trees

Nodal explants, excised from young shoots from mature trees of Syzygium cuminii, were cultured on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of BA or kinetin. Among these, BA (0.5 or 1.0 mg l^–1) induced greening and opening of the incipient shoot buds, which however did not elongate. Elongation of the shoot buds was facilitated on MS medium with 1.0 mg l^–1 BA supplemented with casein hydrolysate (1.5 g l^–1) or glutamine (200 mg l^–1). Nodal explants (microcuttings), taken from shoots developed in vitro, also developed multiple shoots when cultured on MS with1 mg l^–1 BA. These explants did not require an additional supply of reduced nitrogen, for further normal development. Shoots developed from explants from mature trees and microcuttings were rooted by sub-culturing them on Knop's medium supplemented with 2% sucrose and 1 mg l^–1 IAA. The plants that developed in vitro were planted in soil and were transferred to the field after an acclimatization period of 7–8 months. These plants have been thriving well for more than three years and have no apparent phenotypic aberrations.     

Axillary bud proliferation and organogenesis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Euphorbia pulchurrima</Emphasis> winter rose

Summary Protocols for both axillary bud proliferation and shoot organogenesis of Euphorbia pulchurrima Winter Rose^TM were developed using terminal buds and leaf tissues. Greenhouse-grown terminal buds were placed on Murashige-Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with various concentrations of either benzlyaminopurine (BA) or thidiazuron (TDZ). Explants produced the greatest number of axillary buds on media containing between 2.2 and 8.8 μM BA. The number of explants that produced axillary buds increased with increasing BA concentration. TDZ at concentrations between 2.3 and 23.0 μM caused hyperhydricity of shoots and were not effective in promoting shoot proliferation. The most calluses and shoots were produced from leaf midvein sections from in vitro grown plants placed on the medium containing 8.8–13.3 μM BA and 17.1 μM indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) for 1 mo. before transferring to the medium containing only BA. Adventitious buds were produced only from red-pigmented callus, and explants that produced callus continued to produce adventitious shoots in the presence of IAA. Five-mo.-old shoots derived from shoot culture or organogenesis rooted readily in artificial soil with or without treatment with indolebutyric acid, and were acclimatized in the greenhouse.     

In vitro culture of vanhoutte's spirea explants from ‘secondary cultures’ and dormant stems forced in solutions containing plant growth regulators

Explants from new growth of forced dormant stems and secondary cultures of Vanhoutte's spirea were cultured on Linsmaier and Skoog (L.S.) medium containing benzyladenine (BA), indoleacetic acid (IAA), thidiazuron (TDZ), and zeatin. The dormant stems were forced by immersing their basal portions in forcing solutions containing 626 µM 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate (8-HQC) and 2% sucrose. BA and gibberellic acid (GA₃) were also added into the forcing solutions to determine if explants obtained from the new growth will benefit from this treatment when culturedin vitro.L.S. medium supplemented with 5 µM BA alone, 5 µM BA plus 1 or 5 µM IAA, and 0.5 or 0.75 µM TDZ alone produced the best shoot proliferation for both sources of explants. BA and GA₃ appeared to be taken up from the forcing solution by the new softwood growth. BA in the forcing solution stimulatedin vitro shoot proliferation in different degrees depending on the period of treatment, while GA₃ caused lessin vitro shoot proliferation. It is proposed that forcing solutions containing plant growth regulators (P.G.R.) are a useful approach for manipulating responses of plant tissues culturedin vitro.     

Plant regeneration through the direct induction of shoot buds from petiole explants of Jatropha curcas: a biofuel plant

An efficient and reproducible method for the regeneration of Jatropha curcas plants has been developed. The method employed direct induction of shoot buds from petiole explants, without the formation of an intervening callus using a Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations of thidiazuron (TDZ). The best induction of shoot buds (58.35%) and the number of shoot buds per explant (10.10) were observed when in vitro petiole explants were placed horizontally on MS medium supplemented with 2.27 µM TDZ after 6 weeks. The induced shoot buds were transferred to MS medium containing 10 µM kinetin (Kn), 4.5 µM 6-benzyl aminopurine (BAP) and 5.5 µM α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) for shoot proliferation. The proliferated shoots could be elongated on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of BAP, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), NAA and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). MS medium supplemented with 2.25 µM BAP and 8.5 µM IAA was found to be the best combination for shoot elongation and 3.01–3.91 cm elongation was achieved after 6 weeks. However, significant differences in plant regeneration and shoot elongation were observed among the genotypes studied. The orientation (horizontal or vertical) and source (in vitro or in vivo) of explants also significantly influenced plant regeneration. The elongated shoots could be rooted on half-strength MS medium supplemented with 2% sucrose, different concentrations and combinations of IBA, IAA and NAA, and 0.25 mg L⁻¹ activated charcoal. Half-strength MS medium supplemented with 2% sucrose, 15 µM IBA, 5.7 µM IAA, 5.5 µM NAA and 0.25 mg L⁻¹ activated charcoal was found to be the best for promoting rooting. The rooted plants could be established in soil with more than 90% survival.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In vitro</Emphasis> propagation of northern red oak (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus rubra</Emphasis> L.)

In vitro propagation of northern red oak (Quercus rubra) shoots was successful from cotyledonary node explants excised from 8-wk-old in vitro grown seedlings. Initially, four shoots per explant were obtained on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 4.4 μM 6-benzylaminopurine (BA), 0.45 μM thidiazuron (TDZ), and 500 mg l⁻¹ casein hydrolysate (CH) with a regeneration frequency of 64.7% after 3 wk. Subculturing explants (after harvesting shoots) to fresh treatment medium significantly increased shoot bud regeneration (16.6 buds per explant), but the buds failed to develop into shoots. A higher percentage (73.3%) of the explants regenerated four shoots per explant on woody plant medium (WPM) supplemented with 4.4 μM BA, 0.29 μM gibberellic acid (GA₃), and 500 mg l⁻¹ CH after 3 wk. Explants subcultured to fresh treatment medium after harvesting shoots significantly increased shoot regeneration (16 shoots per explant). Shoot elongation was achieved (4 cm) when shoots were excised and cultured on WPM supplemented with 0.44 μM BA and 0.29 μM GA₃. In vitro regenerated shoots were rooted on WPM supplemented with 4.9 μM indole-3-butyric acid. A higher percentage regeneration response and shoot numbers per explant were recorded on WPM supplemented with BA and GA₃, than on MS medium containing BA and TDZ. Lower concentrations of BA and GA₃ were required for shoot elongation and prevention of shoot tip necrosis. Each cotyledonary node yielded approximately 20 shoots within 12 wk. Rooted plantlets were successfully acclimatized.     

In vitro organogenesis and plant regeneration from leaves of Solanum candidum Lindl,S. quitoense Lam. (naranjilla) and S. sessiliflorum Dunal

Adventitious shoots and roots were regenerated from leaf segments of 3 Solanum species: S. candidum Lindl., S. quitoense Lam. and S. sessiliflorum Dunal. Leaf explants differentiated shoots on modified MS medium supplemented with 23–163 M kinetin and 0–5.7 µM indoleacetic acid (IAA). Excised shoots were induced to form roots by transfer to media with benzyladenine (BA) and naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) at 0.09 and 0.11 µM respectively for S. quitoense and 0.01 µM NAA for S. candidum and S. sessiliflorum. Adventitious roots were produced directly from leaf explants with 0–140 µM kinetin and 0–5.7 µM IAA in combination. Rooted plants were successfully established in the greenhouse.     

Phenylacetic acid improves bud elongation and in vitro plant regeneration efficiency in Capsicum annuum L.

 A highly efficient three-stage protocol for the regeneration of chilli pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) from cotyledon explants was developed. This protocol used PAA in both the shoot-bud induction medium and the medium for elongation of the shoot buds. A superior medium for the induction of buds from the cotyledons was MS medium supplemented with BA (5 or 7 mg/l) + PAA (2 mg/l). Buds were elongated during the second stage on medium containing BA (2 or 5 mg/l) + PAA (2 mg/l). On this medium most of the buds elongated, and their number also increased due to the formation of new buds; bud elongation was achieved in 100% of the cultures provided the buds were induced in the primary stage on a medium supplemented with BA+PAA. The shoots that elongated in the second-stage rooted at 100% frequency on a medium supplemented with NAA (1 mg/l). The complete plantlets with well-developed root and shoot systems were transferred to field conditions where they grew to maturity, flowered and fruited normally. While shoot-bud induction from the cultured cotyledons was also observed on media supplemented with BA (5 or 7 mg/l) alone or in combination with IAA (0.2–2 mg/l), buds induced on these media were often distorted, with most not developing into normal shoots in the second-stage subculturing; a rosette of buds was seen in the second stage subculturing. On the other hand, PAA in combination with BA in the primary induction medium and second-stage medium promoted normal development and the elongation of shoot buds. Received: 28 July 1998 / Revision received: 22 December 1998 / Accepted: 19 February 1999     

In vitro adventitious bud regeneration from internode segments of beech

Internode explants collected from in vitro grown shoots of two clones of Fagus sylvatica L. (European beech) and five clones of F. orientalis Lipski (Oriental beech) were used to evaluate their bud regeneration capacity. Adventitious shoot-buds formed on callus, which developed from internode segments cultured in a Woody Plant Medium supplemented with different concentrations of either thidiazuron (TDZ) or benzyladenine (BA). After 4 weeks of culture on induction media, the explants were transferred to a proliferation medium supplemented with 2.2 μM BA, 9.1 μM zeatin and 2.9 μM indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) for another 8 weeks. Medium containing TDZ was much more efficient than medium containing BA in inducing adventitious buds, the optimal TDZ concentration being 4.5 μM and the optimal BA concentration 17.8 μM. Genotypic variation in shoot regeneration capacity was observed among the two Fagus species and between clones within each species, with a significant interaction between TDZ concentration and genotype regarding mean bud number. Thidiazuron induction medium supplemented with a range of individual auxins was investigated, and it was found that IAA or indole-3-butyric acid at 2.9 μM enhanced the bud forming capacity of explants. Morphogenic response varied significantly with the position of the internode along the stem. The highest regeneration potential was obtained from apical internodes, while those distal to the apex were the least productive. Elongated shoots of adventitious origin can be readily proliferated by axillary branching. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Plant regeneration from tissue cultures of Persian buttercup (Ranunculus asiaticus L.)

Different plant explants of Persian buttercup (Ranunculus asiaticus L.) were screened for callus induction and adventitious shoot regeneration on different media to establish totipotent cultures. Murashige & Skoog (MS) medium was used, supplemented with different concentrations of the following growth regulators: kinetin, benzyladenine (BA), naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and indoleacetic acid (IAA). Callus was induced and adventitious buds regenerated only from cotyledonary explants after 4–5 weeks. Subculture of the regenerated buds on the same basal medium in presence of gibberellic acid (GA₃) and BA produced well-organized shoots. Rooting was obtained by transferring shoots to growth regulator-free MS medium. A high rate of shoot multiplication has been achieved on medium with high concentration of kinetin and long-day photoperiod. Finally the plants were successfully transferred to soil and grown in a greenhouse.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In vitro</Emphasis> culture of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Feronia limonia</Emphasis> (L.) Swingle from hypocotyl and internodal explants

The hypocotyl and internodal segments from in vitro grown seedlings of Feronia limonia (L.) Swingle (wood apple) were cultivated on Murashige and Skoogs (1962, MS) medium supplemented with N⁶-benzyladenine (BA) or adenine (ADE) or kinetin (KN) at 0.5 to 5 µM. The optimum response was recorded on the medium containing 2 µM BA. An average of 12 and 8 shoots were developed from hypocotyl and internodal explants, respectively, after eight weeks of culture. The shoots were excised, and the residual explants were transferred to fresh medium where again they developed shoots. Up to three such passages resulted in the production of shoots from repeatedly subcultured explants and an average of 24 – 36 shoots per explant was obtained. The in vitro developed shoots produced roots when transferred to half strength MS medium supplemented with 1 µM 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). The developed plantlets were successfully transferred to mixture of soil, sand and coco-peat (1:1:1) and hardened in controlled environment. Hardened plants were transplanted to soil in greenhouse.     

Direct plant regeneration from cucumber embryonal axis

Embryonal axis explants from 2-d-old in vitro germinated seeds were used to induce multiple shoot production. The combination of 4.44 μM BA and 1.59 μM NAA in MS medium triggered the initiation of adventitious shoot buds. The explants with shoot buds produced maximum number of shoots (10.6 per explant) in MS medium supplemented with 4.44 μM BA and 0.065 mM L-glutamine in three successive transfers. The elongated shoots were rooted on MS medium with 4.92 μM IBA. Rooted plants were transferred to soil with a survival rate of 65 %.     

Plant regeneration from nucllar tissues of Aegle marmelos through organogenesis

A protocol for organogenesis from nucellar explants excised from fertilized ovules of immature fruits of Aegle marmelos Corr. was developed. Adventitious buds were initiated on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium containing various combinations of 6-benzyladenine (BA), -naphthalene-acetic acid (NAA), 3-indoleacetic acid and gibberellic acid. Medium containing 4.4 m BA and 2.7 M NAA produced the maximum number of adventitious buds per explant. Shoots were elongated by transferring explants with shoot buds to medium with a low concentration of BA (0.44 M). Rooting of in vitro-regenerated shoots was obtained in half-strength MS medium with 4.9 M indole-3-butyric acid. This is the first report of plant regeneration from nucellar explants of A. marmelos.Abbreviations BA benzyladenine - IAA indoleacetic acid - IBA indolebutyric acid - NAA naphthaleneacetic acid - GA₃ gibberellic acid     

In vitro micropropagation of an endemic fruit tree Syzygium alternifolium (Wight) walp

Shoot proliferation was obtained from shoot tip and nodal bud explants ofSyzygium alternifolium (Wight) walp on modified Murashige and Skoogs medium (MS) supplemented with either BA, KN or AD alone or BA in combination with either IAA, NAA or IBA. A combination of BA and auxins produced more shoots from both types of explants than on the medium containing only cytokinins. The highest multiplication rate was achieved with nodal bud explants in presence of 17.7M BA and 2.6M NAA. Excised shoots were rooted on half-strength MS medium with either IAA or IBA. The regenerated plantlets have been successfully acclimatized and transferred to soil. About 70% of plantlets have survived underex vitro conditions.Abbreviations BA-N⁶ Benzyladenine - KN Kinetin - AD Adenine - IAA Indole-3-aceticacid - IBA Indole-3-butyricacid - NAA-1 Naphthalene aceticacid - MS Murashige and Skoogs medium (1962)     

Rapid in vitro propagation of Aloe barbadensis Mill

Axillary bud development and adventitious bud formation was obtained with decapitated shoot explants of Aloe barbadensis Mill. Maximal bud growth and rooting of shoots was obtained on a modified medium of Murashige and Skoog supplemented with 5 M IBA. More adventitious and axillary buds developed on nutrient media supplemented with IBA than with NAA. Axillary buds but not adventitious buds developed with IAA in the medium. Morphogenesis was inhibited by 2,4-D. Kinetin, benzyladenine and thidiazuron were toxic to the explants and did not stimulate the development of axillary of adventitious buds. The optimal temperature for bud growth and development was 25°C. Axillary bud growth and the formation of adventitious buds was slowed down at 10°C and totally inhibited by 30°C. The optimal sucrose concentration was 3% with the inhibition of bud growth and development by higher sucrose levels.