Selection of cell-lines and regeneration of plants resistant to fusaric acid from Gladiolus × grandiflorus cv. ‘Peter Pears’

Cell suspension cultures of ‘Peter Pears’, a cultivar of Gladiolus x grandiflorus (Hort.), susceptible to the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. gladioli (Mass.), have been challenged with fusaric acid, one of the toxins produced by this pathogen. Selected cell-lines showed increased tolerance to the toxin and grew even on concentrations of fusaric acid up to 0.5 mm. When inoculated with a conidial suspension, the mycelial growth on selected cell-lines was limited compared to the control. Fusaric acid greatly reduced plant regeneration, and only two plants were obtained from the callus subcultured for a prolonged time on medium with fusaric acid. These plants have a significantly altered DNA content compared to the control. A reduced callus phase on toxin-containing medium, resulted in an improved regeneration and the DNA content of the regenerated plantlets was similar to the control. Some plants regenerated from these fusaric acid-insensitive cell-lines showed an increased tolerance to the toxin when cultured in vitro in presence of fusaric acid. The selected plants will be further tested for Fusarium-resistance once maturity is reached. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.