Somatic embryogenesis of Limonium sinense: a study on the regeneration efficacy via direct and indirect approach followed by Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation

An efficient indirect somatic embryogenesis and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation protocol for Limonium sinense has been established, wherein neomycin phosphotransferase II (npt II) and β-glucuronidase (GUS) genes were used as selectable and screenable markers, respectively. The efficiency of plantlet regeneration from transformed tissue was compared between direct embryogenesis from leaf and indirect embryogenesis from callus. Embryogenic callus (EC) was initiated from leaf explants on MS medium supplemented with 6.7 μM 2,4-D and 2.22 μM BA. The somatic embryos were induced, matured, and germinated when ECs were transferred onto MS medium supplemented with 4.44 μM BA and 1.07 μM NAA. Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA 4404 containing the vector pBI121 was used for the transformation. Transient GUS expression frequency was evaluated and putative transgenic plants were successfully grown on culture medium in presence of kanamycin (80–100 mg L^?1). PCR analysis of putative transgenic plants confirmed the presence of GUS and nptII genes. The transformation efficiency obtained through indirect embryogenesis from calluses (4%) was much higher than through direct embryogenesis from leaf explants (0.9%).     

Somatic embryogenesis from floral tissues of feijoa (Feijoa sellowiana Berg)

The objectives of the present work were to study the embryogenic competence of floral tissues of Feijoa sellowiana and to investigate the influence of plant growth regulators on somatic embryo induction and development in order to establish a somatic embryogenesis protocol starting from somatic tissues. Petals, stamens and ovaries of floral buds were cultivated onto LPm basal medium supplemented with different levels of 2,4-D, Picloram, 2-iP, Kin and BAP. The highest embryogenic callus induction was obtained with Picloram (10 μM) and Kin (1 μM). Rates of embryogenic calluses induction in stamens and petals were significantly affected by PGRs. Embryogenic calluses were transferred to the same medium, supplemented with gradually reduced levels of PGRs-free medium. After 60 days in suspension cultures with 2,4-D (1 μM) and 2-iP (1 μM) calluses were transferred to PGR-free medium. After 30 days it was observed the development of globular somatic embryos on the surface of 18% of friable calluses previously induced with Picloram (10 μM) and Kin (1 μM). Only embryogenic calluses derived from stamens gave rise to this morphogenetic pattern.Torpedo and cotyledonary somatic embryos transferred to PGR-free culture medium were converted to complete plantlets. This is the first report of somatic embryogenesis in this species starting from somatic tissues.     

利用未成熟种子建立野生阿宽蕉胚性细胞悬浮系和植株再生的研究

以纵切的野生阿宽蕉60d龄未成熟种子为外植体,在MI1愈伤组织诱导培养基(MS大量和微量元素及铁盐+MorelandWetmore维生素+0.1mmol/LKH2PO4+87mmol/L蔗糖+4.5μmol/L2,4-D+1g/LGelrite)中培养60d后开始出现浅黄色松散的胚性愈伤组织,150d后愈伤组织诱导率为(15.11±1.95)%。该类愈伤组织被转移到含18μmol/L2,4-D的MI2培养基中继代60d后,可获得状态均一的理想的胚性愈伤组织。胚性愈伤组织悬浮培养后,通过2个月的筛选和继代培养,可得到均质的胚性细胞悬浮系。理想的胚性愈伤组织在体细胞胚诱导培养基中培养10d后可见到白色半透明体细胞胚的发生,体细胞胚诱导率为7.70×105个/gFW。成熟体细胞胚的萌发率为(33.33±3.37)%,植株再生率为(20.83±1.68)%。     

In vitro somatic embryogenesis from Mangifera indica L. callus

The nucellus and globular adventitious proembryos were removed from 2-month-old fruits of mango (Mangifera indica L.) cultivars ‘Ono’ and ‘Chino’, and were cultured on sterile, solid Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium that had been modified as follows: half-strength major salts and chelated iron; 20% (v/v) coconut water (CW); 6% sucrose; 100 mg l^?1 ascorbic acid and 400 mg l^?1 glutamine. Embryogenic explants were sub-cultured after 4–6 weeks in liquid modified MS medium containing 2 mg l^?1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) instead of CW. Rapidly growing cultures were established and were sub-cultured monthly. Somatic embryogenesis was induced following sub-culture from MS medium with 2,4-D to MS without growth regulators and with or without activated charcoal (0.5%). Germination of somatic embryos appeared to be enhanced by 1 mg l^?1 benzyladenine (BA); however, most of the germinating embryos became embryogenic.     

Production of a useful mutant by chronic irradiation in sweetpotato

Sweetpotato cultivar Kokei No. 14 was planted in a ⁶⁰Co gamma field. Shoot apices from the plants irradiated with different doses were cultured on MS medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/l 2,4-D for the induction of embryogenic calluses and the formation of somatic embryos. Embryogenic calluses with somatic embryos were transferred to MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/l ABA to induce the germination of somatic embryos. Plantlets from somatic embryos developed into whole plants on the basal MS medium. The regenerated plants were transplanted in a field and from them one mutant with alteration of root flesh color and yield was obtained. The root flesh color had changed from light-yellow in the wild-type plant into orange in the mutant. The yield of storage roots increased significantly from 218.8 ± 60 g (FW) in the original plant to 646.9 ± 150 g (FW) in the mutant per plant. Carotenoids content of the storage roots in the mutant had significant difference compared to the wild-type at the 1% level. Peroxidase isozymes and RAPD polymorphism were also analyzed between the mutant and the wild-type plants.     

Evaluation of the efficiency of somatic embryogenesis in guava (Psidium guajava L.)

Summary

An embryogenic protocol for plant regeneration of guava (Psidium guajava L.) was established using 10-week post-anthesis, zygotic embryo explants. Somatic embryogenesis was induced on Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) containing 3% (w/v) sucrose, 0.8% (w/v) agar and various concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) by continuous treatment of the zygotic embryo explants. Somatic embryos appeared as globular structures at the end of the third week from culture initiation, and heart-shaped, cotyledonary-stage, and torpedo-stage embryos appeared within the next few weeks. The development of somatic embryos was asynchronous and showed five-to-seven discernible stages. Depending upon the response of the somatic embryos during their maturation, germination, acclimatisation, and encapsulation, they were grouped into one of three categories. The preferred type of somatic embryos (≥ 1.5 mm) were called the “elongated torpedo” (ET) category. The slightly less-preferred type of stomatic embryos (from 1.0 – 1.5 mm) were termed the “short torpedo” (ST) category. The least preferred types of somatic embryos, at the cotyledonary, heart-shaped, and/or globular stages of development (< 1.0 mm), were grouped into a third category designated “CHG”. The suitability and efficacy of various growth regulators and other treatments were assessed based on six different embryogenic parameters: (i) the frequency of embryogenesis; (ii) the intensity of embryogenesis, defined as the average number of somatic embryos produced per culture (“ANEPC”); (iii) the frequency of ET somatic embryos; (iv) the frequency of ST somatic embryos; (v) the frequency of CHG somatic embryos; and (vi) the overall efficiency of embryogenesis, defined as the potential of a treament to produce somatic embryos at the ET or ST stages, or at both stages of development, that could be converted into plantlets. In the present report, we found that 0.01 mg l^–1 2,4-D gave the maximum frequency and intensity of embryogenesis. But the highest frequencies of ET and ST somatic embryos were produced on MS medium containing 3% (w/v) sucrose and 0.001 mg l^–1 2,4-D, while CHG embryos were produced at the highest frequency on the same medium, but containing 0.5 mg l^–1 2,4-D. It was difficult to calculate the most effective concentration of 2,4-D for somatic embryogenesis based on parameters (i) – (v) above. Hence, quantitative estimations of the efficiency of embryogenesis (sixth parameter) were imperative in order to analyse the potential of the different treatments. The highest efficiency of somatic embryogenesis was achieved by continuous treatment of 10-week post-anthesis, zygotic embryo explants with 0.01 mg l^–1 2,4-D on full-strength MS agar medium containing 3% (w/v) sucrose. These somatic embryos matured normally on the same medium, and germinated well both on half-strength solid and in half-strength liquid MS medium containing 3% (w/v) sucrose. They grew in full-strength liquid MS medium with 3% (w/v) sucrose and showed maximum survival upon transfer to soil and hardening. Evaluations of the efficiency of somatic embryogenesis in guava, based on the six parameters defined above, have also helped us to understand and evaluate processes for high efficiency micropropagation in other species.     

Propagating palms in vitro with special emphasis on the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.)

Tissue-culture methods are described for the vegetative propagation of several palm species either through shoot tip culture or plantlet differentiation via embryogenic callus. The influence of explant size, medium composition and physical environment required for the establishment of palm shoot tips in vitro was determined. Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) seedling shoot tips of various sizes were cultured in either liquid or agar modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 0.0–1.0 mg 1^?1 α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 0.0–15.0 mg 1^?1 benzyladenine or N⁶-(Δ²-isopentenyl) adenine (2iP) in order to enhance shoot growth and induce axillary budding. Satisfactory date palm shoot tip growth and proliferation was obtained from explants that were 3 mm in length, consisting of the apical meristem region and 2–5 adjacent leaf primordia. Optimum shoot tip development and axillary budding was obtained by initially establishing explants on an agar medium for 2 weeks, then transferring to a liquid medium. Shoot tips from several palm species were cultured on MS media containing 100 mg 1^?1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 3 mg 1^?1 2iP and 3 g 1^?1 activated charcoal, or on MS medium containing 1 mg 1^?1 NAA and charcoal, to determine their morphogenetic responses in vitro. Shoot tips of Metroxylon sp., Phoenix canariensis Hort. ex. Chabaud., P. dactylifera ‘Khalasa’, ‘Thoory’ and ‘Zahidi’, and P. roebelenii O'Brien planted on medium with 2,4-D and 2iP initiated callus, asexual embryos and free-living plantlets after 4–8 months in culture. Shoot tips from Erythea edulis S. Wats., P. canariensis, P. dactylifera ‘Khalasa’, Thoory' and ‘Zahidi’, Washingtonia filifera Wendl. and W. robusta Wendl. cultured on medium containing NAA developed into plantlets with well-developed leaves and adventitious roots within 2–6 months from the time of planting. In some cases, cultured date palm shoot tips gave rise to axillary buds.     

Recurrent somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in Angelica glauca Edgew., a critically endangered medicinal plant of the Western Himalaya

Summary

Secondary somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from seedling explants of Angelica glauca, an endangered medicinal plant of the Himalaya, is reported for the first time. Callus was obtained from all the explants tested in the present study (i.e., epicotyls, hypocotyls, and cotyledonary nodes). The highest frequency of callus formation (95.8%) was observed using epicotyl explants on 4.0 µM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), whereas 70.8% of hypocotyl explants, and 58.3% of cotyledonary nodes produced callus. One-hundred percent embryogenic callus was induced from epicotyl explants in 2.0 µM 6-benzyladenine (BA) and 2.0 µM μnaphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), together with the maximum number of somatic embryos (34.2 embryos per explant). Cotyledonary nodes did not produce somatic embryos. Histological studies confirmed the induction of somatic embryogenesis. Somatic embryos germinated into plantlets upon transfer to half-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium without added plant growth regulators. We observed 85% survival of these plantlets under field conditions. The development of secondary embryos was also observed when primary embryos were sub-cultured on full-strength MS medium containing 2.0 µM NAA plus 2.0 µM BA. This system of recurrent somatic embryogenesis provides a route for gene transfer and also for the large-scale production of this critically endangered medicinal plant.     

The influence of exogenously applied 2,4-D and NAA on fruit drop reduction in pummelo cv. Thong Dee

ABSTRACT

Effect of 2,4-D and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) on fruit drop reduction in pummelo cv. Thong Dee was investigated in the pummelo growing areas of Nakhon Pathom province, Thailand. Five similar sized and aged of pummelo trees were selected to set up the experiment. Ten mature branches with the same size from each pummelo tree were randomly selected around the canopy for 2,4-D (20 and 40 mg L^?1), NAA (20 and 40 mg L^?1) application and control. All treatments were applied to selected pummelo branches 2 times at full bloom and 2 months after fruit set. The results showed that 20 mg L^?1 NAA (14.84%) and 40 mg L^?1 NAA (12.26%) gave significantly higher percent of fruit retention at 6 months after fruit set. However, leaf total nonstructural carbohydrate concentration analysis showed that 40 mg L^?1 2,4-D (104.86 mg g^?1) and 20 mg L^?1 2,4-D (96.55 mg g^?1) gave significantly higher total nonstructural carbohydrate than those in control (78.44 mg g^?1). For fruit quality, 40 mg L^?1 2,4-D and 20 mg L^?1 2,4-D gave the highest peel weight with 435.55 and 358.57 g, respectively, and 40 mg L^?1 2,4-D gave the highest peel thickness with 20.25 mm, while 20 mg L^?1 NAA gave statistically higher total soluble solid than those in 20 mg L^?1 2,4-D and 40 mg L^?1 2,4-D. Therefore, 20 mg L^?1 of NAA sprayed 2 times at full bloom and 2 month after fruit set effectively reduced fruit drop and increased percentage of fruit retention in pummelo cv. Thong Dee.     

荔枝组织培养中胚状体产生的类型及分析

以荔枝２０—３０ｄ龄幼胚为外植体诱导产生愈伤组织，并筛选建立了幼胚胚性愈伤组织系。胚性愈伤组织在附加２，４－Ｄ的ＭＳ培养基上诱导胚状体分化，在附加ＮＡＡ和ＩＢＡ的培养基中促进胚状体的发育和成熟。在体外胚胎发生过程中，形成大量各种类型的胚状体，其中出现不少异常胚；胚性愈伤组织继代培养过程中存在大量的染色体变异，这可能是产生异常胚的重要原因之一。     

Recurrent somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in Coriandrum sativum L.

An efficient method of repetitive somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration was established in Coriandrum sativum L. Embryogenic callus was induced from cotyledon and hypocotyl segments on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 4.52 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D), upon subculturing on medium having same level of 2,4-D at an interval of 3 weeks developed somatic embryos, which progressed to cotyledonary stage through early developmental stages of somatic embryogenesis. The transfer of somatic embryos at an early cotyledonary and cotyledonary stage in clumps in succession to fresh 4.52 μM 2,4-D supplemented medium developed embryos in a cyclic manner. Upon transferal to embryogenic clumps (cotyledonary embryos) to modified MS medium (4 g l⁻¹ KNO₃, 0.29 g l⁻¹ NH₄NO₃, 3 mg l⁻¹ thiamine HCl, 0.5 mg l⁻¹ pyridoxine HCl, and 5 mg l⁻¹ nicotinic acid), the embryos irrespective of the cycles underwent maturation and germination. Germinating embryos transferred to half-strength MS medium favored healthy growth of plantlets. The system of recurrent somatic embryogenesis in coriander offers a system for genes transfer and also scale-up production of modified plants.     

芸芥体细胞胚胎发生的组织细胞学研究

以芸芥子叶为外植体, 在MS + 2, 4-D 1.0 mg·L^-1培养基上培养2周后可诱导体细胞胚胎的发生。胚性愈伤组织在MS + 2, 4-D 0.2 mg·L^-1培养基上大量增殖, 体细胞胚胎在N₆培养基上成熟后, 可在附加0.1 mg·L^-1 IBA的1/2MS培养基上生长。切片观察表明: 芸芥体细胞胚胎为单细胞发生方式, 与合子胚形成过程相似。芸芥胚性细胞具有细胞小、胞质浓、核大、核仁明显, 排列紧密的特点, 首先由单个细胞分裂形成2 - 细胞原胚, 2 - 细胞原胚分裂成3 - 细胞原胚或4 - 细胞原胚, 3 - 细胞原胚或4 - 细胞原胚继续分裂形成多细胞原胚, 进一步发育成一个成熟的体细胞胚胎。     

Effect of sucrose concentrations on somatic embryogenesis in carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.)

The effect of sucrose concentration on callus induction followed by differentiation of embryogenic callus derived from petal explants of four carnation cultivars (Nelson, Sagres, Spirit and Impulse) was investigated. Embryogenic calli were produced on Murashige and Skoog [Murashige, T., Skoog, F.A., 1962. Revised medium for rapid growth and bioassays with tobacco tissue cultures. Physiol. Plant 154, 73–479] basal medium (MS) culture medium containing six concentrations of sucrose (3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18%, w/v) all supplemented with 9 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 0.8 μM 6-benzyladenine (BA). Maximum frequency of embryogenic callus was obtained from the media containing 9 and 12% sucrose. Somatic embryos were induced on a hormone-free MS media containing the seven concentrations of sucrose. Development of somatic embryos was enhanced by increasing sucrose concentration from 1.5 to 12%, while it was reduced in higher concentrations of 15 and 18%. However, normal embryos were not developed in the media containing 1.5 and 3% sucrose. Ninety-five percent of somatic embryos were regenerated to form the entire plantlets when they transferred onto the half-strength hormone-free MS culture medium containing 3% sucrose. Plantlets were also continued to grow normally under greenhouse condition.     

香蕉愈伤组织及体细胞胚诱导过程中的组织学观察

将巴西蕉(Musa AAA Cavendish)的未成熟雄花接种在MI培养基(MS+4mg/L2,4-D+1mg/L生物素+1mg/LIAA+1mg/LNAA+100mg/L谷胺酰氨+100mg/L麦芽抽提物+30g/L蔗糖+7.5g/L琼脂粉)上进行愈伤组织诱导,对愈伤组织诱导过程中的各个阶段进行组织学观察。结果表明,未成熟雄花外植体脱分化的起始部位是表皮下层的维管组织细胞,启动时间为外植体接种后4～5周;外植体接种8周后获得分生小球体;胚性愈伤组织形成于分生小球体的表面,主要由具有细胞核和核仁比大、细胞质丰富的胚性细胞组成。随着培养时间的延长,胚性愈伤组织的表面形成一些由多细胞组成的体细胞原胚,有时还可观察到二分体的存在,这表明香蕉体细胞胚可能是单细胞起源的。     

Production of genetically uniform plants from shoot tips of Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. – a critically endangered medicinal herb

We report the successful micropropagation of a critically endangered medicinal plant Aconitum heterophyllum Wall., using low concentrations of plant growth regulators (PGRs) and molecular validation of the clonal stocks. The maximum rate of in vitro shoot multiplication was obtained on 1.0 × Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 0.25 mg L^?1 Kinetin (Kn) plus 0.25 mg L^?1 Indole acetic acid (IAA). Up to 100% rooting was obtained 15 for shoots cultured on 1.0 × MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg L^?1 IAA. Adding 0.25 mg L^?1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D) to 1.0 × MS medium resulted in 100% callus formation, while adding 0.25 mg L^?1 IAA plus 0.25 mg L^?1 Kn to 1.0 × MS medium containing 0.25 mg L^?1 2,4-D resulted in 100% generation of embryogenic callus. Inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) marker analysis was carried out to check for possible somaclonal variation in the plantlets obtained after three consecutive sub-cultures. Of the 15 ISSR primers used, 10 were found to be monomorphic, with 95–98% similarity, and were used for cluster analysis by the unweighted pair group using arithmetic averages (UPGMA) method. The results revealed that in vitro-regenerated plantlets did not exhibit any genetic polymorphism.     

Somatic embryogenesis in a broad spectrum of grape genotypes

Somatic embryogenesis is the preferred method for cell-to-plant regeneration of grapevine. In this study, we tested the embryogenic capacity of anther-derived calli from 59 grape genotypes, representing a diverse group of Vitis vinifera and hybrid varieties, and hybrids and accessions of non-vinifera Vitis species. Most genotypes were tested on two types of media: MST1 medium, which contained plant growth regulators (PGRs) 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and thidiazuron (TDZ), and MSE medium, which contained 2,4-D and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). Twenty-four of the grape genotypes produced embryogenic callus on one or both of these media, eighteen of which have not been reported to form somatic embryos before. The results also suggested that the various PGR combinations are differentially effective at inducing somatic embryos in various classes of grape genotypes. For example, seven of the eight V. vinifera conv. occidentalis varieties brought forth somatic embryos on MSE medium, and three out of four American Vitis genotypes produced somatic embryos on MST1 medium. We could not observe any apparent association between frequency of callus formation and embryogenic capacity of the anthers.     

Direct somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from leaf cultures of ornamental species of Dianthus

Protocol for direct somatic embryogenesis from leaf explants of economically important species of Dianthus, viz. D. caryophyllus, D. barbatus and D. chinensis has been developed. Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) liquid medium supplemented with 2,4-D (1 mg/l) was used for direct induction of somatic embryogenesis without an intervening callus phase. Initially globular structures were observed after 21 days of culture of leaf explants in liquid medium. Development of embryos to heart and torpedo stages was achieved in the liquid medium incorporated with polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000) at a concentration of 2.5%. Embryo maturation was further promoted by addition of casein hydrolysate (CH) (200 mg/l) in MS liquid medium. Embryos germinated to form plantlets on solid MS medium supplemented with GA₃ (1 mg/l). Regenerated plants with well-developed root and shoot systems were successfully transferred to field conditions.     

唐菖蒲体细胞胚起源、发育的形态与组织细胞学观察

 以唐菖蒲‘Advanced Red’品种的籽球为试验材料,将籽球切片放在MS + 6.0 mg · L^-1 TDZ培养基上暗培养21 d,诱导胚性愈伤组织;将胚性愈伤组织转入MS + 1 mg · L^-1 2,4-D培养基中暗培养28 d诱导体细胞胚。使用立体显微镜和石蜡切片技术对体胚形态与细胞组织进行观察。结果表明：体胚诱导14 d后,开始出现一些胚性细胞,之后形成多个细胞组成的原胚（pre-embryonic cell complexes）,原胚进而发育形成球形、盾形,心形、鱼雷形胚和子叶期胚。将成熟的体胚转入MS培养基后长出不定根和不定芽,形成完整的植株。唐菖蒲体胚的起源有外起源和内起源两种方式。在初生体胚发育过程中还伴有次生胚的形成。     

Induction of somatic embryogenesis in lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Geartn.)

Callus induction and somatic embryogenesis of lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) cv. Satabankacha were studied. Callus was initiated by culturing bud, cotyledon, and young leaf explants on Murashige and Skoog (MS) (1962) medium containing a combination of 0, 4, 8 and 10 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) and 0, 1, 2 and 3 μM 6-furfuryl amino purine (kinetin) or substituting 0, 0.5 and 1 μM benzyladenine (BA) for kinetin. Bud explants cultured on medium containing 4 μM 2,4-D and 1 μM BA gave the best callus growth. For somatic embryogenesis, the calli initiated on MS medium containing a combination of 4, 6, 8 and 10 μM 2,4-D and 1 μM BA and subsequently transferred to media containing 2–4 μM 2,4-D and 0 or 0.5 μM BA produced the most somatic embryos. When cultures were 12-week-old, callus produced on medium with 6 μM 2,4-D and 1 μM BA showed the best growth for somatic embryo regeneration. When transferred to a medium with 2 μM 2,4-D and 0.5 μM BA somatic embryos were produced from 33% of the calli. Embryos developed to the stage proembryo within 4 weeks and formed globular, heart, torpedo and mature embryos within 16 weeks.