Endophytic microorganisms as potential growth promoters of banana

The potential of endophytic microorganisms in promoting the growth of their host plant was determined by artificially introducing five isolates (bacterial and fungal strains: UPM31F4, UPM31P1, UPM14B1, UPM13B8, UPM39B3) isolated from the roots of wild bananas into both healthy and diseased banana plantlets (Berangan cv. Intan). The response of the host plants to endophytic infection was assessed by measuring the change in four growth parameters: plant height, pseudostem diameter, root mass and total number of leaves. The endophytes tested as growth promoters were found to have a significant effect in both healthy and Fusarium-infected (diseased) plantlets. In both experimental systems, the bacterial isolate UPM39B3 (Serratia) and fungal isolate UPM31P1 (Fusarium oxysporum) showed promising growth-promoting properties. Isolate UPM39B3 (Serratia) induced the largest increases in all four growth parameters in healthy plantlets – 3.14 cm (height), 1.12 cm (pseudostem diameter), 2.12 g (root mass) and 1.12 (total number of leaves plant⁻¹) – followed by isolate UPM31P1 (Fusarium oxysporum). The beneficial effect of UPM39B3 (Serratia) and UPM31P1 (Fusarium oxysporum) was also reflected in the diseased plantlets, where pre-treatments with the isolates either singly (T6: UPM31P1; T8: UPM39B3) or in a mixture (T7: UPM31P1 + UPM39B3; T9: UPM14B1 + UPM13B8 + UPM39B3) were able to sustain the growth of plantlets, with significantly higher growth values than those in diseased plantlets that were not infected with endophytes (T10: FocR4). These results demonstrate the economic significance of these endophytic isolates, particularly UPM39B3 (Serratia) and UPM31P1 (Fusarium oxysporum), both as potential growth promoters of banana and as agents rendering tolerance towards Fusarium wilt as a strategy in the management of Fusarium wilt of banana via improved vegetative growth.     

Detection of lethal yellowing phytoplasma in coconut plantlets obtained through in vitro germination of zygotic embryos from the seeds of infected palms

Lethal yellowing (LY) is a disease caused by 16SrIV phytoplasmas that has devastated coconut plantations in the Americas. An alternative means of phytoplasma spread is through seeds. Therefore, we used a novel approach based on plumules from the embryos of LY‐diseased coconut palms. We cultured the plumules in vitro to determine the presence of phytoplasma DNA in the plantlets. In the first assay, 185 embryos were obtained. The results showed positive detection in 20 samples (11%) with the nested PCR and in 59 samples (32%) with the TaqMan real‐time PCR. A second assay was designed to trace plumules to their respective embryos and haustorial tissues to determine whether they had derived from an embryo with positive LY detection; a total of 124 embryos were obtained. The results showed no positive detection with the nested PCR and positive detection in 42 of the haustorial tissue samples (32%) with the TaqMan real‐time PCR. The 124 plumules isolated from the embryos were cultivated under in vitro conditions and divided into two groups. Group A was followed for shoot formation and Group B was followed to the plantlet stage. After 3 months of cultivation, 33 cultures (50%) within Group A became necrotic; the rest were analysed to evaluate LY phytoplasma DNA with the TaqMan real‐time PCR assay and 14 (42%) tested positive. After 18 months of cultivation, 20 cultures (34%) within Group B became necrotic. The rest were analysed for the detection of the LY phytoplasma DNA, and 15 and 11 (39% and 29%) of the samples tested positive with the TaqMan real‐time PCR and nested PCR assays, respectively. Blast analysis of the sequenced products revealed that the sequences showed 99% homology with LY‐phytoplasma subgroup 16SrIV‐A. The results presented here demonstrate, for the first time, the occurrence of the transmission of LY phytoplasmas from coconut embryos to plantlets.     

毛刺槐花药培养及再生植株的获得

以毛刺槐的花药为材料,开展其组织培养和植株再生系统的研究。结果显示：将毛刺槐的花药接种在MS附加2,4—D0．1mg／L和BA3．0mg／L的培养基上,20d时花药愈伤组织诱导率可达41．5％。花药愈伤组织在MS附加BA5．0mg／L的分化培养基上继代培养2个月后,可分化出许多绿色的芽点,待不定芽长至2—3cm高时将其切下,转入MS附加IBA1．0mg／L的生根培养基上,2周后即可得到完整的再生植株。同时,研究就4℃低温预处理和蔗糖浓度对毛刺槐花药培养的影响进行了研究和讨论。     

Organogenesis and tuberization in cultures of Dioscorea floribunda

Callus cultures were established from node and internode segments of Dioscorea floribunda Mart. & Gal. Both Murashige and Skoog's and modified White's medium supported callusing as well as organogenesis when supplemented with either 2,4-D or NAA in combination with BAP or Kn. On development of shoot primordia, calli were transferred to unsupplemented, half strength MS basal medium. This procedure led to the increase in formation of shoots. Several crops of shoots were obtained from single differentiating callus cultures by excising the shoots and subculturing the residual part. Seventy percent of plantlets survived rooting and transfer to soil.When they were maintained in half-strength MS basal medium and 0.5 mg1^-1 of NAA, 70% of plantlets formed aerial tubers at nodes. These tubers produced both roots and shoots and could be detached from the mother plant.     

茅苍术内生真菌的分离鉴定及在组培苗中的回接

从茅苍术的叶、茎和根中分离鉴定内生真菌,并观测内生菌回接对茅苍术组培苗生长的影响。共获得茅苍术内生菌16株,其中叶片中14株,根茎中各获得一株。分别为交链孢霉、镰刀霉、小克银汉霉、青霉、茎点霉、小菌核菌、孔球孢霉和不产孢类。经内生菌和茅苍术快繁苗实验初筛,得到两株对植物无害的内生菌:小菌核菌和孔球孢霉,将它们回接到茅苍术组培苗中,可以从苗叶片中染色观察到菌丝。其中小菌核菌能提高茅苍术炼苗的存活率,接入内生菌的茅苍术叶片超氧化物歧化酶和过氧化物酶活性均高于未接菌的对照,脂肪酸不饱和指数基本不变,说明分离自茅苍术的内生菌回接后可以与宿主建立共生关系。     

盐胁迫对黄独脱毒苗生长和若干生理生化指标的影响

通过在培养基中添加不同浓度NaCl,探讨盐胁迫对黄独脱毒苗生长及若干生理生化指标的影响。结果表明,在盐胁迫条件下,黄独脱毒苗的生长受到明显抑制,叶片中总叶绿素含量、SOD活性下降,丙二醛含量增加,脯氨酸大量积累;随盐胁迫强度的加大,对试管苗生长及生理生化指标的影响相应加剧;在盐胁迫下,黄独脱毒苗叶片脯氨酸含量与丙二醛含量呈极显著正相关,而与叶绿素含量和SOD活性呈极显著负相关。因此,盐胁迫下叶片中脯氨酸含量的变化可作为黄独脱毒苗受害程度的主要生理鉴定指标。     

槐树组织培养中再生植株的比较解剖学研究

本文对组织培养过程中,槐树(Sophora japonica L.)再生植株正常苗和玻璃苗的叶、茎及茎端的解剖结构进行了比较研究。结果表明:正常苗结构基本类似于实生苗,玻璃苗结构变异较大;玻璃苗叶片变厚,表皮细胞形状不规则,气孔保卫细胞萎缩变形,叶肉无明显的栅栏组织与海绵组织分化,叶绿体含量较少,叶维管组织发育不良;茎横切面形状不规则,表皮上气孔数目较多,皮层厚角组织不明显,维营束大致分布成一轮,形成不规则维管柱;茎端分生组织细胞层数较少,不呈现典型的原套原体结构。     

Plantlet multiplication from white pine (Pinus strobus L.) embryos in vitro: bud induction and rooting

White pine embryos were grown on 4 different media with 6 different benzyladenine (BA) concentrations. Maximum adventitious shoot initiation and growth were obtained on a modified Lepoivre medium with 20 M BA. Modified Schenk and Hildebrandt, Murashige and Skoog, and Gresshoff and Doy media were also tested. Shoot elongation was achieved on half-strength basal medium lacking growth regulators. Three rooting experiments involving indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), sucrose concentration, shoot orientation, IBA pulse length, and light or dark were carried out. Treatment of shoots in an upright position with 50 M IBA for eight days followed by culture in a medium with 3% sucrose in the light produced the most rooting (50% at 3 months). Rooted shoots were transplanted to the greenhouse for further growth.     

Regeneration of Cucumis sativus var. sativus and C. sativus var. hardwickii,C. melo,and C. metuliferus from explants through somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis

Regeneration in six inbred lines or F₁ hybrids of Cucumis sativus was achieved on Murashige & Skoog's medium containing various concentrations of 2,4-D/BA, NAA/BA, NAA/Z or NAA/K. The range of regeneration frequency for cotyledon, leaf and petiole explants was 0–38, 0–75 and 14–96%, respectively, after 6–8 weeks in culture. Only one subculture of calli to growth regulator-free medium was required for regeneration. Preincubation of explants in the dark for 2–3 weeks was essential to achieve optimal regeneration. Highest frequency of plantlet formation occurred with petiole explants incubated on NAA/BA (5.0/2.5 M), NAA/Z (5.0/5.0 M) or 2,4-D/BA (5.0/5.0 M). Approximately 80% of these plantlets survived after transplanting to greenhouse soil, and they flowered and set fruit. The F₁ hybrid, Endeavor, gave the highest regeneration frequency of 91% on 2,4-D/BA at 5.0/5.0 M. Formation of somatic embryos was observed on 2,4-D/BA, while organogenesis and embryogenesis both were evident on NAA/BA and NAA/Z. Cotyledonary explants yielded the lowest frequency (ca. 7%) of plantlet formation in this study. Plantlets of C. sativus var. hardwickii and an F₁ hybrid of C. sativus x C. s. var hardwickii were regenerated on NAA/Z and NAA/K at frequencies of 15–65%, predominantly by the formation of somatic embryos. Shoots were obtained from cotyledon and leaf explants of C. metuliferus on IAA/BA (7.5/5.0 M) and from leaf and petiole explants of C. melo on NAA/BA (5.0/2.5 M), but plantlets were recovered only in C. melo.Abbreviations BA benzyladenine - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxy-acetic acid - IAA indoleacetic acid - K kinetin - MS Murashige & Skoog's medium - NAA naphthaleneacetic acid - Z zeatindihydroside     

Induction of somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from cotyledon and hypocotyl explants of <Emphasis Type="Italic">eruca sativa</Emphasis> mill

Summary A protocol was developed for high frequency somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from cotyledon and hypocotyl explants of Eruca sativa. Explants grown on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 4.52 μM 2,4-D formed embryogenic callus after 4 wk of culture. Secondary somatic embryos were also produced from primary somatic embryos on MS medium containing 0.56 μM 2,4-D. Somatic embryos developed into mature embryos on MS medium in the presence of 45 gl⁻¹ polyethylene glycol. After desiccation, somatic embryos developed into plantlets by culturing the mature somatic embryos on 1/2 x MS medium containing 0.24 μM indole-3-butyric acid.