High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of anthocyanins in Japanese garden iris and its wild forms

Summary Following bud pollination of tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) with pollens from common buckwheat (F. esculentum), cv. Mancan, 31% of the ovaries began to grow but all turned brown and withered after 6 to 14 days. Fluorescence microscopy of the growing ovaries showed the pollen-tube entering the embryo-sac. The ovules from the growing ovaries failed to produce any embryo in the culture medium in which the immature embryos from the self-pollinated (compatible) tartary flowers were able to mature and germinate. No embryo development was observed after cross-pollination. The interspecific incompatibility is attributed to the failure of gametes to fuse.Abbreviations BAP benzylaminopurine - IAA indoleacetic acid     

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) variation in Fagopyrum tataricum Gaertn. accessions from China and the Himalayan region

The diversity among 52 landraces and cultivars of tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum Gaertn.) and one accession of its wild ancestor, F. tataricum ssp. potanini Batalin, from diverse geographic origins was examined using random amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) markers. Eighteen primers produced a total of 240 fragments, of which 153 (63.75%) were monomorphic and 87 (36.25%) polymorphic bands. UPGMA-based pairwise Jaccard’s coefficient of similarity was used to deduce the relationships among 53 genetically diverse accessions. The similarity between cultivated tartary buckwheat accessions ranged from 0.61 to 1.00. Four distinct clusters were formed which corresponded well with the geographic distribution of the tartary buckwheat. Nepalese accessions showed maximum diversity followed by Chinese accessions. Tartary buckwheat accessions from the Himalayan region of northwestern India revealed a narrow gene pool. The wild buckwheat accession did not group with any of the three cultivated tartary buckwheat groups, and formed its own single-entry group. Genetic similarity (0.59) of Chinese buckwheat accessions with the wild ancestor reaffirmed that cultivated tartary buckwheat originated in the Yunnan province of northwestern China. Consistent with some earlier reports, our study demonstrated the usefulness of the RAPD technique for the characterization of plant genetic resources and assessment of diversity between species. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

High frequency somatic embryogenesis with a pampeana-derived genotype of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)

Summary Somatic embryos of genotype R11 of the alfalfa variety Pampeana were produced from embryogenic calli derived from leaf sections. They were induced by an auxin shock and its development was attempted on six different media. The best condition for somatic embryo production was inducing callus on MS medium plus 10 M 2,4-D and 4,6 M KIN and transferring them, after the auxin shock, to MS with 10–20 mM NH₄ ⁺ and 30 mM proline. More than 500 somatic embryos per plate were produced. Embryos were grown to plants on MS or half strength MS media and all regenerated plants resembled the original R11 genotype. This technique could be useful in alfalfa Pampeana improvement using genetic modification.     

苦荞SSR分子遗传图谱的构建及分析

构建苦荞遗传连锁图谱,为今后有关苦荞基因组结构、重要农艺性状QTL定位、分子标记辅助育种和基因克隆等研究工作奠定基础。以栽培苦荞‘滇宁一号’和苦荞野生近缘种杂交产生的119份F4代分离材料为作图群体,利用SSR分子标记来构建苦荞的分子遗传连锁图谱。本研究构建的连锁图谱包含15个连锁群,由89个标记组成,其中偏分离的标记有22个,占24.7%,每条连锁群上的标记在2~16之间。连锁群长度在6.9~165.8 cM的范围,覆盖基因组860.2 cM,总平均长度9.7 cM。本研究构建了首张苦荞SSR遗传连锁图谱,为苦荞QTL定位、基因克隆、遗传选育等研究奠定了基础。     

荞麦属(Fagopyrum Mill)植物资源的RAPD研究

以10个随机引物对荞麦属(Fagopyrum)11个种(含大粒组7个种,小粒组4个种)共50份栽培及野生荞麦资源进行RAPD研究.初步建立了养麦属不同物种的RAPD指纹图谱.系统聚类分析表明,荞麦属大粒组和小粒组组间以及不同荞麦种间在DNA水平上差异极大.在大粒组中苦荞DNA与其他种之间有较大的差异.大野荞和毛野荞分别与甜荞和苦荞在RAPD水平上较近缘,支持它们分别是甜荞和苦荞祖先种的假说.     

Production of phenolic compounds in hairy root culture of tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum Gaertn)

Fagopyrum tataricum Gaertn (tartary buckwheat) is an excellent medicinal and nutrient-rich crop. It has a high content of rutin and other phenolic compounds. An experiment was conducted to investigate in vitro production of phenolic compounds from hairy root culture of tartary buckwheat. Hairy root growth was promoted by increasing culture time in MS medium. The highest hairy root growth reached up to 11.2 g/l dry weight at 18 d after placement. Transformation was confirmed by PCR using rol genes, rol A (304 bp), B (797 bp), C (550 bp), and D (1035 bp) genes which is transferred into hairy roots from the Ri-plasmid in Agrobacterium rhizogenes and is responsible for the induction of hairy root from plant species. Rutin, quercetin, (−) epicatechin, (−) catechin hydrate, gallic acid, ferulic acid, chlorogenic acid, and caffeic acid were identified both in hairy and wild type roots of tartary buckwheat. The main compound found in the both types of root was epicatechin followed by rutin. The concentration of phenolic compounds in the hairy roots of tartary buckwheat was several-fold higher compared with wild type roots of same species. Our results indicate that hairy root culture of F. tataricum is a valuable alternative approach for the production of phenolic compounds.     

Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration of Tripsacum dactyloides L.

Summary This article reports the culture and plant regeneration of Tripsacum dactyloides. Mature embryos of Tripsacum dactyloides dactyloides were used to obtain embryogenic callus cultures. Currently, 180 normal plants have been regenerated from these cultures. Callus was initiated on MS medium supplemented with dicamba (10 mol or 20 mol) and sucrose (3% or 6%), and plants were regenerated on hormone free MS medium containing 2% sucrose. No significant differences were found in callus initiation frequency or in embryogenic response of cultures on the four combinations of sucrose and dicamba tested. The embryogenic cultures have been maintained for 9 months (12 subcultures) and have retained regeneration capacity. Plants regenerated from tissue culture of maize-by-Tripsacum hybrids could be useful in maize improvement.     

Anther callus induction and green plant regeneration at high frequencies from an interspecific rice hybrid Oryza sativa Linn. x O. rufipogon Griff

Summary Callus induction and green plant regeneration at high frequencies from an interspefic hybrid, Oryza sativa L. x O. rufipogon Griff. has been achieved by simply coordinating the growth regulators in the induction medium. The study was conducted with two different basal media (Potato-2 and N₆) and seven different combinations of growth regulators 2,4-D, NAA and kinetin. Synergistic effects of the two auxins in enhanced anther response to callus induction and subsequent green plant regeneration were observed in both media. The highest frequency of callus induction was obtained on Potato-2 medium supplemented with 1 mg/12,4-D, 2 mg/l NAA and 1 mg/l kinetin. The same combination of growth regulators which yielded higher frequencies of callus induction also induced higher mean number of calli per anther. Although the calli formed on N₆ medium showed high regenerability, there was a concomitant increase in the number of albinos among the regenerants. The auxins in the induction media had considerable influence on the regeneration capacity of the calli. The regeneration frequencies were higher from calli formed in the presence of both auxins in the induction media. The levels of growth regulator combinations seem to influence the green plant regeneration especially for calli induced on Potato-2 medium. Among the pollen grain derived plants the majority were either haploids or double haploids and very few were chromosomal variants.     

Callus formation and plantlet regeneration from immature Triticum durum Desf. embryos

Summary Experiments upon in vitro culture of immature durum wheat embryos, harvested at different growth stages, were made in two consecutive years. Callus formation and plantlet regeneration were obtained. The ability to form callus and the degree of morphogenetic processes varied with the different hormonal treatments used and with the age of the embryos. In the first year the best response for callus growth was observed with 2,4-D 2 mg l^-1 plus adenine 50 mg l^-1 or 2,4-D 5 mg l^-1 alone in the more mature embryos (15 and 20 days after anthesis). On the contrary, NAA 5 mg l^-1 had a greater shoot regeneration effect. In the next year, at all 2,4-D concentrations and for the two different ages of the embryos tested, all embryos formed callus. Regeneration of plantlets was obtained in higher percentage in calli originated from the more developed embryos. The effect of changed media upon plantlet regeneration was studied after callus transplant.Investigation by cytophotometry and chromosome counts on different calli showed, practically in all cells, a diploid condition. A histological analysis demonstrated embryogenic somatic characteristics in many samples of callus. The pattern of organogenesis seemed to be via adventitious bud formation but structures resembling embryoids were also observed in the callus.     

Protoplast Fusion in the Genus Medicago and Isoenzyme Analysis of Parental and Somatic Hybrid Cell Lines

Leaf mesophyll protoplasts of Medicago arborea (2n = 32) were electrofused with cell suspension and/or callus protoplasts of Medicago sativa. Heterokaryons were identified in agarose beds by their dual fluorescein isothiocianate—chlorophyll fluorescence and their coordinates were recorded. Hybrid minicalli were manually picked up and grown first in nurse culture and then in callus induction medium. Hybrid nature of the selected calli was confirmed by isoenzyme analyses. In order to verify whether morphogenesis of somatic hybrid calli was affected by cell incompatibility, mesophyll and cell suspension protoplasts, derived from the same plant of M. sativa with high embryogenic capacity, were fused. Only callus tissues derived from mesophyll protoplasts retained the highly embryogenic character of the M. sativa genotype, while hybrid cell lines were non-morphogenic and showed isoenzyme patterns similar to tissues derived from cell suspension protoplasts. The achievement of somatic hybrid plants in the genus Medicago is discussed.     

Plant regeneration from embryo-callus culture in barley

Summary Plants were regenerated from callus cultures initiated from immature embryos of barley, Hordeum vulgare L. Immature embryos from seven diverse genotypes were cultured on modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1.5 mg 2,4-D and 6.5 mg IAA/l. Of the 249 embryos cultured, 30% initiated callus within 8 days. Subculture of callus for 80 to 100 days on half-MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l 2,4-D and 1.0 mg/l zeatin resulted in organogenesis. Culture of organogenic calli for 30 days on half-MS medium without growth regulators produced plants which originated mostly via multiple shoot formation. Callusing response of the tested genotypes ranged from zero to 44%; however, only 23% of the calli were regenerative. Regenerated plants included variants for chlorophyll deficiency, plant height, stem thickness, spike shape, pollen fertility, seed set and ploidy.     

Production of Primary Triticale from Calluses of Immature Abnormal Hybrid Embryos between Triticum durum and Secale cereale

Plant regeneration was attempted in callus induced from the immature abnormal hybrid embryos between T. durum and S. cereale, using 4-Huorophenoxyacetic acid as a growth regulator. In particular, the relationship of numerical variation in chromosomes between the callus tissues and the regenerated plants was investigated. Cytological observation revealed that there was no distinctive numerical difference between the shoot-forming (SF) and the non-shoot-forming calluses and also between the SF calluses and the regenerated plants. The root-tips of regenerated plants consisted of cells having various chromosome numbers, including the expected 2 n = 3 ×= 21 (genomes, ABR) of which the frequency was 69.8 %. The regenerated plants showed partial fertility, notwithstanding that the hybrid plants were expected to be sterile. Since the frequency of abnormal embryos was about 90 % in this cross, the utilization of abnormal embryos was demonstrated by use of callus culture.     

苦荞提取物的化感作用及化学成分分析

为探究苦荞水提液的化感作用及其相关的化学成分,以2种农田恶性杂草马唐和三叶鬼针草为供试植物,测定苦荞水提液的不同有机相萃取物的化感作用,利用气相色谱-质谱联用仪(GC-MS)对苦荞水提液的石油醚相和乙酸乙酯相的萃取物进行化学成分分析。结果表明,苦荞水提液的石油醚、乙酸乙酯和正丁醇相萃取物均对马唐和三叶鬼针草的种子萌发和幼苗生长具有一定的抑制作用,其中乙酸乙酯相的化感抑制率最强,当浓度为2.00 mg/mL时,供试植物的化感响应指数为-1.00,抑制率达到100.0%,其次是石油醚相,正丁醇相的抑制率最差。总体上,3种不同萃取物对马唐的抑制作用大于三叶鬼针草,对根长抑制率大于茎长。苦荞水提液石油醚相和乙酸乙酯相中含量大于0.5%的化学成分有41种,其中石油醚相的主要成分为4-乙基苯酚,含量占26.8%,乙酸乙酯相的主要成分为四氢薰衣草醇,含量占20.7%。本研究初步证实,苦荞对农田杂草具有一定的化感作用,含有活性的化学成分,其化学成分的活性特征及作用机制有待进一步研究。     

Influence of genotype and culture medium on callus formation and plant regeneration from immature embryos of Triticum turgidum Desf. cultivars

Twelve durum wheat cultivars were evaluated for their response to in vitro tissue culture. Zygotic immature embryos were used to induce callus formation using four different Murashige and Skoog‐based media. Each contained 9.05 μM 2,4‐dichlorophenoxy acetic acid but differed in their carbon source (sucrose or maltose) and the presence of NaCl (0 mM or 40 mM). The influence of both genotype and medium on the type and percentage of callus produced was observed. Calli were either compact and frequently embryogenic, or soft and watery. Percentages ranged from 54 to 100%, depending upon genotype and induction medium. All calli were then plated on a regeneration medium containing 20 g/l sucrose, 2.68 μM 1‐naphthaleneacetic acid and 2.22 μ 6‐benzylaminopurine. The regeneration of plantlets was higher from compact than from soft calli, with a strong dependence on genotype and type of induction medium used. MSm induction medium (30 g/l maltose) and MS40s (30 g/l sucrose plus 40 mM NaCl) were best for inducing compact calli, and gave the highest proportion of regenerated plants. The in vitro response (number of total shoots from a compact callus/number of embryos plated) was higher for immature embryos of ‘Baztan’, ‘Bradano’ and ‘Don Pedro’. These cultivars are a good starting material for experiments involving transformation of calli from zygotic immature embryos.     

苦荞漆酶基因的克隆与生物信息学分析

利用RT-PCR技术从苦荞中克隆出2条漆酶（laccase）基因,运用生物信息学技术对2个基因序列进行分析,预测结构域、二级和三级蛋白结构,进行蛋白同源比对及进化树分析。结果表明,FtLAC-1基因序列开放阅读框为1695bp,编码564个氨基酸,FtLAC-2基因序列开放阅读框为1707bp,编码568个氨基酸。FtLAC-1和FtLAC-2蛋白预测分子量分别为61.41和62.47kDa,理论等电点分别为9.45和9.41,为亲水性蛋白,2个基因序列相似性较低,氨基酸序列同源性不高。qRT-PCR分析出其在苦荞不同组织器官存在差异性表达。结论为进一步探索FtLAC-1和FtLAC-2在苦荞薄果壳形成中的功能提供理论基础。     

Electrophoretic patterns of acid soluble proteins and active isoforms of peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase typifying calli and somatic embryos of two reputed date palm cultivars in Morocco

Summary When subjected to micropropagation by tissue culture, the two reputed cultivars of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.); Bou-Sthammi noire, resistant to Bayoud disease and Bou-Feggous, of high fruit quality, give rise to three types of calli, called white and root-forming callus, hyperhydric and degenerating callus and friable and embryogenic callus. All explant sources, calli and germinated embryos were analysed by denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) for acid soluble protein composition. Phenol-oxidizing enzymes; peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase, were also, evaluated and the isoforms separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. When compared with the explant and germinated embryos, embryogenic calli of the two date palm cultivars could be identified by a concentrated polypeptide of molecular weight 27 500 and polypeptides of molecular weights 70 000 and 11 500. Hyperhydric and degenerating callus contained the polypeptide exhibiting the molecular weight 32 000. Embryogenic calli showed high levels of soluble, ionically and covalently bound peroxidases. The soluble acidic isoperoxidase of R _f 0.60, revealed in these calli and germinated embryos could be a marker of the two tissues. White and root-forming calli of Bou-Feggous cultivar were typified by soluble acidic isoperoxidases with high mobility (R _f 0.75) and anodic ionically wall-bound polyphenoloxidases similar to those of the explant sources. Polyphemoloxidase activities detected in calli and embryos were very low when compared with those of explants. Used as an early test to screen embryogenic calli of date palm, acid soluble proteins, peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase data could lead to introduce lightening and economy in the tissue culture technique.     

Evaluation of androgenic competence through anther culture in common eggplant and related species

Anther culture is a convenient technique to obtain androgenic haploid and doubled haploid (DH) plants. In common eggplant (Solanum melongena), this technique has been used to develop DH pure lines for producing uniform F1 hybrid seed of some commercial varieties. However, a comprehensive study of the variation of this useful trait among different materials of common eggplant and related species is still lacking. In this work, we studied the androgenic response of 12 accessions of common eggplant and related materials from the primary (eggplant complex) and secondary genepools. We cultured anthers of all the accessions under the same experimental conditions, and studied their competence to produce calli, embryos and plants, as well as the quality and origin of the embryos produced. In our conditions, anthers of 11 out of the 12 accessions produced somatic calli, whereas only 5 also produced microspore-derived embryos, with variable results in terms of embryo quality and of frequency of embryo induction and plant germination. Embryos of responding accessions were initially haploid, and reached the DH status, verified with SSR markers, after a defined period of culture. In addition to other aspects common to many androgenesis-responsive species, our results allowed us to extract conclusions particular to common eggplant and relatives, including the difficulty for finding sources of androgenic competence out of S. melongena, the reduced impact of calli in the production of non-DH individuals, and the need to avoid the occurrence of severe anatomical and functional problems in the apex of most embryos, which seriously reduces their germinative success.     

Colchicine, trifluralin, and oryzalin promoted development of somatic embryos in Ilex paraguariensis (Aquifoliaceae)

A protocol for somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration of Ilexparaguariensis St. Hil. from embryos cultures was developed. Heart stage zygotic embryos were removed from seeds of immature, light green fruit and treated with antimicrotubule agents (0.1; 0.2, and 0.5% colchicine for 24 and 48 h; 1; 10, and 20 M of either trifluralin, - trifluoro- 2,6-dinitro-N,N- dipropyl-p-toluidine, or oryzalin, 3,5-dinitro-N₄, N-dipropylsulphate during 48 h). The embryos were cultured aseptically on quarter-strength Murashige and Skoog medium containing 3% sucrose, 0.65% agar (1/4MS), and 0.46 M zeatin. Cultures were incubated in darkness at 27 ± 2 °C. All thetreatments provoked a diminution of the number of germinated embryos and in some of the treated embryos somatic embryogenesis was induced. Somatic embryo maturation and conversion into whole plants could be achieved by culturing the embryos on 1/4MS lacking hormones and incubated at 27 ± 2 °C, 14 h photoperiod (116 mol m^-2s^-1). Mostof the plants regenerated from somatic embryos appeared morphologically normaland grew under greenhouse conditions. Only 2 plants out of 152 studied contained the tetraploid number of the chromosomes (2n = 4x = 80), meanwhile the rest of the plants had the normal diploid number of chromosomes (2n =2x = 40). Somatic embryos with abnormal morphology were also observed.     

Interspecific hybridization between Cicer arietinum and C. pinnatifidum

An interspecific hybrid between Cicer arietinum cv. GL 769 and a wild species C. pinnatifidum was obtained after emasculation, pollination and application of growth regulators. Ovules were cultured and embryos were later dissected to obtain hybrid plants. These plants were albinos and morphologically resembled C. pinnatifidum. Shrivelled seeds were also obtained in 2% of the crosses, which on germination gave rise to albino plants. These plants did not survive beyond 20 days. The hybrid nature of these plants was confirmed by esterase isozyme studies. Hybrid shoots obtained from germinating embryos were cultured on modified ML-6 medium with BAP 2 mg/1, IAA 0.5 mg/1, where they turned green after 3–4 weeks. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies on leaf sections from green hybrid shoots showed an improvement in the chloroplast structure, with better organized grana.     

Utilization of Asymmetric Somatic Hybridization for the Transfer of Disease Resistance from Brassica nigra to Brassica napus

Asymmetric somatic hybrid calli were produced between Brassica napus and a transgenic (Hyg ^R) line of B. nigra using a donor recipient fusion method for the production of cybrids. The transgenic line of B. nigra used as a donor also possessed genetic resistance to the pathogenic fungi Phoma lingam and Plasmodiophora brassicae. Using hygromycin for selection, 332 hybrid calli were obtained from which 30 produced shoots (1—-20 per callus) which were rooted on a hormone-free culture medium. The rooted shoots were transferred into soil and cultivated in a growth chamber where the plants were tested for resistance against the two pathogens. Out of 129 hybrid plants tested for resistance against P. brassicae, 30 (23.3 %) plants proved to be resistant and from 78 plants tested for resistance against P. lingam, 41 (52.6 %) plants remained disease-free after infection.