Rapid adventitious shoot regeneration from leaf explants of European birch

The goal of this research was to develop a rapid and efficient system for regenerating shoots from leaf explants of European birch, Betula pendula Roth. Single-node stem explants were established in culture, and microshoots were subcultured every 4 weeks through 12 subcultures. Leaves from glasshouse plants or subcultured shoots were excised from stems, cut into approximately 35-mm² pieces, and placed on Woody Plant Medium (WPM) containing different combinations of naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) (0, 3, 6 or 9 M) and benzyladenine (BA) (0, 7.5, 15 or 22.5 M) in a 4×4 factorial design. The percentage of leaf pieces forming shoots and the number of shoots regenerated per explant were recorded after 4 weeks. Only media containing BA without NAA stimulated shoot formation on leaf explants. Fifteen micromolar BA induced the most shoots to form on leaf explants compared to 30, 45 or 60 M of this cytokinin. In addition, shoot regeneration was enhanced up to four-fold between the first and eleventh subculture. Over 90% of the leaf explants regenerated shoots with an average of 18 buds formed per explant for the eleventh subculture. Almost twice as many explants formed shoots if their adaxial side was in contact with the medium rather than oriented away from it. The ability to regenerate shoots from leaves varied among plants, regardless of stock plant age. This reliable shoot regeneration system can be used for rapid shoot proliferation and potentially for genetic engineering of European birch.     

Establishment and characterization of American elm cell suspension cultures

Cell suspension cultures of Dutch elm disease (DED)-tolerant and DED-susceptible American elms clones have been established and characterized as prerequisites for contrasts of cellular responses to pathogen-derived elicitors. Characteristics of cultured elm cell growth were monitored by A₇₀₀ and media conductivity. Combined cell growth data for all experiments within a genotype showed relatively low variances and between-genotype contrasts during repeated passages showed no significant differences. Subculturing exponentially growing cells at 8–14 day intervals, within readily measured parameters of media conductivity (4.95–4.2 mmhos) and cell concentration (≥ 1.4 A₇₀₀), consistently resulted in repeatable profiles of elm cell growth and minimized lag phase. Culture cells were essentially homogeneous after 5 subculture passages and their overall appearance was stable. We conclude that the described procedure resulted in consistent cultures suitable for elicitor treatment experiments. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Transgenic American elm shows reduced Dutch elm disease symptoms and normal mycorrhizal colonization

The American elm (Ulmus americana L.) was once one of the most common urban trees in eastern North America until Dutch-elm disease (DED), caused by the fungus Ophiostoma novo-ulmi, eliminated most of the mature trees. To enhance DED resistance, Agrobacterium was used to transform American elm with a transgene encoding the synthetic antimicrobial peptide ESF39A, driven by a vascular promoter from American chestnut. Four unique, single-copy transgenic lines were produced and regenerated into whole plants. These lines showed less wilting and significantly less sapwood staining than non-transformed controls after O. novo-ulmi inoculation. Preliminary observations indicated that mycorrhizal colonization was not significantly different between transgenic and wild-type trees. Although the trees tested were too young to ensure stable resistance was achieved, these results indicate that transgenes encoding antimicrobial peptides reduce DED symptoms and therefore hold promise for enhancing pathogen resistance in American elm.     

Cytokinins in the leaves of Ginkgo biloba. II. Metabolism and transport of 8 (14C) zeatin applied to shoot explants

Irrespective of their age, leaves of Ginkgo biloba metabolised applied 8 (¹⁴C) zeatin to compounds of similar chromatographic properties. Glucosylation is apparently not a normal feature of cytokinin metabolism in immature leaves. However, the application of zeatin to these leaves did result in the formation of metabolites which co-chromatographed with glucosylated cytokinins. As far as cytokinin metabolism is concerned therefore, this application of excess zeatin allowed immature leaves to behave as mature or senescing leaves. Overall metabolism was fastest in immature leaves. From the metabolites formed it would appear as if oxidation, which resulted in the formation of a metabolite which co-eluted with N-(purin-6-yl)glycine, was also important in immature leaves. In senescing leaves glucosylation was the major form of metabolism. Extraction and re-application of the polar metabolites (formed from zeatin) to mature leaves resulted in the formation of compounds which co-chromatographed with zeatin. This suggests that these compounds could serve as precursors for zeatin or could be hydrolysed to form zeatin.Very little of the applied radioactivity was exported from the leaves irrespective of their physiological age. When the metabolites, obtained after zeatin application to mature leaves, were extracted and reapplied to the leaves, export of radioactive material was much improved. The results suggest that should cytokinins such as zeatin be translocated to mature leaves of this deciduous gymnosperm their export from the leaves would be unlikely unless first metabolised. In all probability the metabolites concerned are cytokinin glucosides.The financial support of the C.S.I.R., Pretoria, is gratefully acknowledged.     

Ethylene and CO2 affect direct shoot regeneration from the petiolar ends of Paulownia kawakamii leaves cultured in vitro

The effects of ethylene and CO₂ on shoot regeneration in excised leaf cultures of Paulownia kawakamii were examined. When both the gases were prevented from accumulating in the headspace of cultures using mercuric perchlorate and potassium hydroxide traps, shoot regeneration frequency improved and callus production was reduced compared to the control and cultures with only one of the gases trapped. Incorporation of either aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) or 1-amino-cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) in the culture medium caused significant reduction in shoot regeneration. There was profuse callus production in the presence of high amounts of ACC, which was accompanied by over sixfold increase in the rate of ethylene production. However, in the presence of AVG callus production was delayed and shoot regeneration decreased, suggesting that low levels of ethylene might be needed for de novo shoot bud induction in Paulownia cultures.Abbreviations IAA Indole-3-acetic acid - MP mercuric perchlorate - AVG aminoethoxyvinylglycine - ACC 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid     

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.     

In vitro differentiation of multiple shoot clumps from intact seedlings of switchgrass

Summary An efficient and reproduciblein vitro culture system has been developed for regeneration of multiple shoot clumps from intact seedlings of both lowland and upland cultivars of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). The multiple shoots were induced on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with various combinations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 1-phenyl-3-(1,2,3-thiadiazol-5YL)-urea (thidiazuron or TDZ). Maximum response was obtained with 4.5 μM 2,4-D and 18.2 μM TDZ. These shoots proliferated and rooted efficiently on MS medium without growth regulators. The developmental pattern of the multiple shoots indicated their origin from the enlarged shoot apex via proliferation of axillary buds and subsequent reprogramming of shoot meristems followed by secondary differentiation of adventitious shoots The simplicity of the protocol and direct production of multiple shoots make this a potential system that is highly attractive and amenable for microprojectile-mediated gene transfer.     

adventitious shoot regeneration from petiole explants of Heracleum candicans wall

Summary A method for adventitious shoot induction from petiole explants of Heracleum candicans is reported. Shoot buds were induced on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 4.4μM 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and 1.1 μM 2,4-dichlorophen-oxyacetic acid (2,4-D). A wound response in the presence of BA and 2,4-D at the time of culture was necessary for inducing shoot buds. The shoot bud regeneration was significantly influenced by size, type and orientation of explants on the culture medium. These shoot buds developed into 4–5 cm shoots upon transfer to a medium containing 1.1μM BA and 0.5 μM α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). The regenerated shoots formed rooted plantlets on MS medium supplemented with 4.9 μM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). About 15 plants were established in the field for further evaluation.     

In vitro regeneration of Echinacea purpurea L.: Direct somatic embryogenesis and indirect shoot organogenesis in petiole culture

Summary An in vitro propagation system was developed for Echinacea purpurea L. (purple coneflower), a medicinal plant commonly used in the treatment of colds, flu and related ailments. Echinacea seeds were found to be contaminated with systemic fungi and therefore an optimized minimal concentration of Plant Preservation Mixture (PPM) was incorporated in the seed germination medium to recover sterile seedlings. Regeneration was induced on petiole explants from 2-month-old sterile seedlings cultured on medium supplemented with benzylaminopurine (BAP) or thidiazuron (TDZ) in combination with indoleacetic acid (IAA). Two distinct forms of regeneration were identified in cultured petiole explants with histological and morphological observations, viz. the direct formation of somatic embryos on the epidermis and the de novo development of shoots from callus tissues formed in subepidermal cell layers. the results of this study have established a micropropagation system for E. purpurea that will provide sterile plant material for further investigations into medicinally active biochemicals and may facilitate mass production of high-quality E. purpurea plants for the commercial market.     

The effect of leaf source and developmental stage on shoot organogenic potential of sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.) leaf explants

Leaf explants harvested from shoot proliferating cultures and intact plants of Liquidambar styraciflua Variegata were placed on solidified Woody Plant medium supplemented with 0.1 mgl^-1 (0.5 M) naphthaleneacetic acid and 2.5 mgl^-1 (11.1 M) benzyladenine to initiate shoot meristems directly. Leaves from intact plants produced over 4 times more adventitious shoots than leaves from in vitro shoots and had a greater tendency to form shoots on the lamina. The relative developmental age of leaf tissue used dramatically influenced the shoot organogenic response observed for leaf explants from intact plants of L. styraciflua Variegata and Moraine.-Leaves that were either 20% or 50% of full size and still actively expanding were superior to other developmental stages for shoot organogenesis. As developmental leaf age increased throughout the period of leaf expansion, the number of shoots forming on the petiole stub remained constant, whereas shoot formation on the lamina increased 8 fold. Shoots derived from Variegata leaves rooted well and grew normally as plants. Differences in rooting ability and plant size could be detected between groups that had been separated according to explant source (in vitro vs. intact plant) and the location of shoot formation (petiole vs. lamina).     

Uptake and metabolism of benzyladenine during shoot organogenesis in Petunia leaf explants

Benzyladenine (BAP) uptake and metabolism were characterized during the key stages of shoot organogenesis in leaf explants of Petunia MD1. Using leaf explant transfer experiments, it was shown that exposure to 2.2 M BAP for 6, 8 or 10 days induced shoot formation on 27, 80 and 100% of the explants respectively, with a concomitant increase in the number of shoots per explant. BAP uptake and metabolism were characterized in leaf explants after 1, 3, 6 or 10 days exposure to [³H]BAP or 10 days exposure plus an additional 2 days on basal medium (10+2). BAP and 9--D-ribofuranosyl-BAP ([9R]BAP) were detected at days 1 and 3 only. Therefore, the BAP free base was not detectable during the shoot induction period between days 6 and 10, as defined by leaf transfer experiments. The BAP ribotide pool was largest on day 1 and decreased to day 10+2. It is possible that the BAP ribotide pool provided either the active cytokinin itself or acted as a short-term storage form for the active cytokinin in petunia shoot organogenesis. Other metabolites detected in petunia leaf tissue included 7--D-glucopyranosyl-BAP ([7G]BAP), 9--D-glucopyranosyl-BAP ([9G]BAP) and an unidentified metabolite C.Abbreviations BAP benzyladenine - [7G]BAP 7--D-glucopyranosyl-BAP - [9G]BAP 9--D-glucopyranosyl-BAP - [9R]BAP 9--D-ribofuranosyl-BAP - [9R-5P]BAP 5-monophosphate of [9R]BAP - [9R-5PP]BAP 5-diphosphate of [9R]BAP - [9R-5PPP]BAP 5-triphosphate of [9R]BAP - TEA Triethylamine This research was supported in part by NSF Grant DCB-8917378 to J.D.C. and USDA-CRGO Grant 89-37261-4791 to T.J.C.     

High frequency somatic embryogenesis from coffee leaves

An improved procedure for the induction, proliferation and regeneration of embryogenic callus from coffee leaf explants has been developed. The optimal culture conditions for callus induction and somatic embryogenesis yielded so-called high frequency embryogenic callus ofCoffea canephora P. ex Fr., Arabusta and Congusta, more rapidly and abundantly than other published procedures.Coffea arabica L. genotypes, however, were less responsive to the procedure. The highest multiplication rate of embryogenic callus in liquid culture, which avoided the differentiation of embryos, was obtained by culture at an inoculum density of 10 g callus 1^-1 in a modified MS medium containing 4.5 M 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, under 3 mol m^-2 s^-1 illumination, and subcultured every 7–10 days. The best long-term maintenance of embryogenic potential was obtained by culture of aggregates (250–1000 m in diameter) at an inoculum density of 5 g 1^-1, with medium renewed every 3–4 weeks. Under these conditions, embryogenic potential ofC. canephora callus was maintained for over 2 years. Analysis of nutrients absorbed by the callus cultures demonstrated that half strength MS macro- and micro-salts were not depleted during at least 3 weeks of sustained culture. The highest regeneration of embryogenic callus required the omission of 2,4-D and a reduced culture density of 1 g 1^-1. Under these conditions of culture, 1 g ofC. canephora or Arabusta callus produced 1.2 and 0.9×10⁵ somatic embryos, respectively, after 8–10 weeks in liquid regeneration medium. This was an overall reduction of 4–6 months from explant to regenerant, when compared with other procedures.Abbreviations BA N⁶-benzyladenine - HFSE high frequency somatic embryogenesis - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - IBA indole-3-butyric acid - rpm rotations per minute - LFSE low frequency somatic embryogenesis - MS Murashige & Skoog medium - PPF photosynthetic photon flux - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - 2-iP 2-isopentenyladenine     

Direct shoot organogenesis and plant regeneration from leaves of grape (Vitis spp.)

Adventitious shoots developed from in vitro-grown leaves of Vitis vinifera cultivars Cabernet Sauvignon, French Colombard, Grenache, Thompson Seedless (syn. Sultana) and White Riesling, V. rupestris cv. St. George (syn. du Lot) and V. vinifera × rupestris cv. Ganzin 1. Leaf explants less than 15 mm long were excised from nodal cultures and cultured on Murashige and Skoog or Nitsch and Nitsch-based regeneration media with 0, 1, 2 or 4 mgl^-1 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). Adventitious shoots developed within 4 weeks at the petiolar stub and occasionally from wounded lamina tissues. Shoot organogenesis occurred only on media containing BAP and at a higher frequency with 2 mgl^-1 than with 1 or 4 mgl^-1. On media containing 2 mgl^-1 BAP, 47, 67, 60, and 42%, respectively, of leaf explants of Cabernet Sauvignon, French Colombard, Thompson Seedless, and White Riesling produced adventitious shoots compared to 14, 14, and 29%, respectively, for Grenache, St. George, and Ganzin 1. Solid culture medium was superior to liquid medium and transfer frequency on solid medium did not affect the regeneration frequency. Further shoot growth was promoted by the transfer of regenerating tissues to fresh regeneration medium. More than 80% of explants initially producing adventitious buds exhibited further shoot growth, developing an average of more than 6 shoots each. Shoots rooted easily and the resulting plants appeared morphologically identical to parent vines.     

Adventitious shoot regeneration from in vitro-cultured leaves of Rubus genotypes

Regeneration of adventitious shoots from leaves of several in vitro-cultured Rubus genotypes was affected by media components and incubation conditions. Leaves cultured at 20°C with a photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) of 40 mol m^-2 s^-1 had a higher regeneration frequency and more shoots per regenerating leaf than ones cultured at 25°C with a PPF of either 40 or 80 mol m^-2 s^-1. Thidiazuron (TDZ) was significantly more effective than benzyladenine. Medium containing 1 M TDZ had the highest percentage regeneration for leaves of Autumn Bliss, Canby, Summit and Sentry red raspberries, whereas leaves of MD-ETCE-1 blackberry hybrid responded more to 10 M TDZ. Higher regeneration frequencies were obtained with 0.5 M indolebutyric acid (IBA) than with 1 M, but no significant difference was observed between 0.5 M and no IBA in other experiments. More shoots per regenerating leaf formed on Murashige and Skoog (MS) and N6 media, than on half-strength MS, Anderson, or Woody Plant media for all genotypes tested. The youngest two expanding leaves near the shoot apex were the most regenerative and yielded the highest number of shoots per regenerating leaf.Abbreviations AND Anderson (1980) - BA benzyladenine - IBA indolebutyric acid - MS Murashige & Skoog (1962) - N6 Chu et al. (1975) - NAA naphthaleneacetic acid - PPF photosynthetic photon flux - TDZ thidiazuron (N-phenyl-N'-1, 2, 3-thiadiazol-5-ylurea) - WPM Woody Plant Medium [Lloyd & McCown (1980)]     

In vitro shoot-tip grafting improves recovery of cotton plants from culture

A rapid in vitro shoot-tip grafting (STG) technique was adapted to increase recovery of intact cotton plants from shoots developed in culture. Induction of root organogenesis in cotton shoots is genotype dependent and unreliable. The resulting loss of regeneration potential due to failure to form roots can vary from 30 to 80% according to genotype and represents a significant bottleneck in the overall recovery of plants from culture. If the non-rooting shoots are transgenic, the loss in regenerated plant material can be substantial. In vitro grafting of cotton shoots to seedling rootstock proved to be a simple and reliable method allowing 90–100% recovery of non-rooting shoots from culture. Success of any given graft was directly related to scion size (0.8–1.0 cm) and age (14–35 days) of the seedling rootstock. The method appeared to be genotype independent, and varietal differences between rootstock and scion did not effect the rate of plant recovery from culture. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Direct shoot regeneration from node,internode, hypocotyl and embryo explants of Withania somnifera

In vitro studies were initiated with Withania somnifera (L.) Dun. for rapid micropropagation of selected chemotypes using nodes, internodes, hypocotyls and embryo explants. Direct regeneration of shoot buds was observed in MS basal medium supplemented with various concentrations of either benzyladenine (BA) or thidiazouron (TDZ) depending on the explant. Nodal explants formed multiple shoots both from pre-existing and de novo buds on Murashige and Skoog's medium (MS) containing 0.1–5.0 mg l⁻¹ BA and a ring of de novo shoot buds on MS medium containing 0.2 and 0.3 mg l⁻¹ TDZ. Internodal explants formed shoot buds on MS with 1.0 and 5.0 mg l⁻¹ BA while the hypocotyl explants gave rise to multiple shoots only on MS with 0.5 mg l⁻¹ BA. Isolated embryos gave rise to many shoot buds on MS with 0.2 and 0.3 mg l⁻¹ TDZ. The shoot buds elongated and rooted either on MS medium with 0.01 mg l⁻¹ BA or on half strength MS medium lacking growth regulators, which depended upon the growth regulator used in the shoot bud induction medium. Except for the embryo-derived plantlets, all other plantlets could be acclimatized with 100% success. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Transformation of plants via the shoot apex

Summary We have transformed petunia byAgrobacterium tumefaciens containing genes for kanamycin resistance and beta-glucuronidase using isolated shoot apices from seedling tissue. Regeneration of transformed plants in this model system was rapid. The technique of shoot apex transformation is an alternative for use inAgrobacterium-mediated transformation of dicotyledonous crop species for which a method of regeneration via protoplasts, leaf disks, or epidermal strips does not exist. This approach offers direct and rapid regeneration of plants and low risk of tissue-culture-induced genetic variation. Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Article No. 23317.     

Adventitions shoot formation on excised leaves of in vitro grown shoots of apple cultivars

Leaves taken from micropropagated shoots of several apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) cultivars were cultured in vitro on Linsmaier & Skoog (LS) medium or the rice anther culture medium of Chu et al. (N6) containing various concentrations of either benzyladenine (BA) or thidiazuron (TDZ) plus naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Of the TDZ concentrations tested, 10 M was most effective and it was equivalent to, or better than, 22 M BA for both the percentage of leaves regenerating shoots and number of shoots formed per regenerating leaf in almost every experiment. Lower concentrations of NAA (1.1 and 5.4 M) gave best results with both BA and TDZ. N6 medium gave consistently better results than LS. Lowering total salt concentration or total N concentration of LS to that of N6 did not improve the response nor did changing the NO₃:NH₄ ratio. The 3–4 leaves on the most distal part of the shoot were most responsive and tended to form the most adventitious shoots. Placing the leaf cultures in the dark for the first 2–3 weeks of the culture period produced the best results. Optimum results were obtained by culturing leaves from the distal part of the shoot in the dark for 2 weeks on N6 medium containing 10 M TDZ and 1.1 or 5.4 M NAA, then moving the cultures to 16 h daylight at a photon flux of 60 mol s^-1m^-2.     

TDZ-induced high frequency plant regeneration through multiple shoot formation in witloof chicory (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cichorium intybus</Emphasis> L.)

A very efficient and rapid regeneration system via multiple shoot formation was developed for Cichorium intybus L. when leaf explants excised from sterile seedlings were cultured on medium supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of various plant growth regulators. In a comparison of leaf lamina and petiole explants, lamina explants produced over three times more shoots than petiole explants, with a mean of 7.5 shoots compared to 2.4. Of the combinations of KIN/IAA, KIN/NAA, BAP/IAA, or BAP/NAA, 0.5 mg l⁻¹ KIN combined with 0.3 mg l⁻¹ IAA was the most effective, producing a mean of 19.7 shoots per lamina explant while the control treatment involving no plant growth regulators produced no shoots at all. When either cytokinin was used alone, BAP was found nearly twice more successful than KIN. However, the most effective treatment of all was the combination of 0.01 mg l⁻¹ TDZ and 1.0 mg l⁻¹ IAA, producing as many as 35.8 shoots per lamina explant. This rate of shoot regeneration is remarkably higher than those previously reported for C. intybus, most likely due to the highly inductive effect of TDZ, which was tested for the first time in this species. Rooting of the shoots was readily achieved on medium containing different concentrations of IAA or IBA. IAA was more effective than IBA and resulted in the highest frequency of shoots that rooted (100%) and mean number of roots per shoot (4.2) when used at 0.5 mg l⁻¹. Hardening off process resulted in a production of more than 80% healthy plantlets.