Optimization of callus cultures at Echinacea purpurea L. for the amount of caffeic acid derivatives

BACKGROUND: In order to produce an effective callus in Echinacea purpurea L.; determination of the explant type and growth regulators that best respond to callus induction and the optimization of the culture conditions to increase the amount of caffeic acid derivatives (CADs) in the obtained callus. CADs contents of callus cultures of E. purpurea were evaluated by establishing an effective callus induction system in vitro. RESULTS: Various medium containing different growth regulators were tested using leaf, petiole, cotyledon and root as the explants. The best callus development was achieved in MS medium with 1.0 mg l 1 2,4- D + 2.0 mg l 1 BAP in leaf, 1.0 mg l 1 NAA + 0.5 mg l 1 TDZ in petiole, 2.0 mg l 1 NAA + 1.0 mg l 1 TDZ in cotyledon and 0.5 mg l 1 NAA + 0.5 mg l 1 BAP in roots. Upon optimisation of callus growth, each type of explant was cultured for 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks in medium for the analyses of caftaric acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and chicoric acid contents. The highest amounts of caftaric acid (4.11 mg/g) and chicoric acid (57.89 mg/g) were found from petiole explants and chlorogenic acid (8.83 mg/g) from root explants at the end of the 10-week culture time. CONCLUSIONS: As a result of the present study, the production of caffeic acid derivatives was performed by providing the optimization of E. purpurea L. callus cultures. Effective and repeatable protocols established in this study may offer help for further studies investigating the production of caffeic acid derivatives in vitro.

Establishment of an in vitro plantlet regeneration protocol for unique varieties of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) var. Mattu Gulla and Perampalli Gulla.

Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) var. Mattu Gulla (MG) and var. Perampalli Gulla (PG) are unique varieties with distinct flavour cultivated in Udupi, Karnataka State, and are exposed to several biotic and abiotic stresses. An efficient and reproducible in vitro regeneration method is required to expedite the manipulation of these brinjal varieties to cope up with stress by tissue culture and gene transfer methods. The present study, reports a rapid and efficient in vitro regeneration protocol for these two varieties. The in vitro growth response was studied on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2, 4-D, BAP and IAA, and the plantlets were regenerated efficiently from callus cultures of leaf, cotyledon and hypocotyl explants. Among the three explants, the hypocotyl explants were found to have better callus induction and multiple shoot regeneration. High frequency of shoot initiation was achieved from hypocotyl derived calluses in MS media with 2.0 mg/L BAP and 0.5 mg/L IAA in MG and PG. Efficient and rapid shoot proliferation, and elongation were noted in MS medium with 1.0 mg/L BAP and 0.3 mg/L GA3. The in vitro regenerated shoots produced healthy roots when they were cultured on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L IBA. A significant difference was observed in percentage of callus induction, number of shoots per callus, shoot elongation and number of hardened plantlets of MG and PG. MG showed maximum response in all stages of culture than PG. Hardening of plantlets in tissue culture was achieved in three weeks. The hardened plantlets were grown in pots for further acclimatization in green house and finally transplanted to experimental garden where they developed into flowering plants and produced mature fruits with viable seeds.

Assessment of somatic embryogenesis potency in Indian soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivars.

Majority of the Indian soybean cultivars are recalcitrant to tissue culture regeneration. The present communication reports the development of somatic embryogenesis in a liquid culture medium from immature cotyledons of G. max. Following induction with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) or naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), the number of somatic embryos and percentage of explants that responded were higher with 45.24 µM 2,4-D. The proliferation of somatic embryos for three successive cycles was achieved in 22.62 µM 2,4-D. Histodifferentiation of somatic embryos under NAA (10.74 µM) indicated that better embryo development and maturation was achieved without any growth regulator. The amino acids such as L-glutamine favoured the somatic embryo induction and histodifferentiation at 20 and 30 mM respectively, where as L-asparagine at 10 mM concentration enhanced the somatic embryo proliferation. In addition, somatic embryos that were desiccated (air-drying method) for 5 days showed better germination (40.88%). The Indian soybean cultivars also showed strict genotypic influence and cv. Pusa 16 was emerged as a best responding cultivar for somatic embryo induction with 74.42% of response.

Effects of chromium on seed germination, root elongation and coleoptiles growth in six pulses

The ecotoxicological effects of Cr[2+] on germination and early seedling growth of six pulses were investigated. Seeds of these plants were exposed to seven different concentrations of Cr [0-3.2 mM]. The results indicated that root elongation and coleoptile growth of six pulse plants were more sensitive than seed germination for measurement of the toxic of Cr[2+] pollutions. Different species show different levels of tolerance to Cr[2+] pollution. Lablab purpureus and Glycine max are the most sensitive to Cr[2+], their germination percentage, root and coleoptile length were significantly lower than other tested species, by contrast, Lathyrus odoratus and Dumasia villasa are the most resist species, their germination and seedling growth almost were not influenced by Cr[2+] pollution significantly comparing the control. There were significantly negatively correlations between seedling growth and increasing concentration of Cr[2+] for Glvcine max, Vigna radiate and Lablab purpureus. The significantly negative correlations between germination and increasing concentration of Cr[2+] were shown for Glycine max, Vigna radiate and V. angularis

The effects of electric impulse on growth of Rhizophora mucronata seedlings (Rhizophorales: Rhizophoraceae)

Exposure of mangrove seedlings to electric current was studied at an intensity of 10, 20 and 30 mA to 0.5, 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h in different combinations, either to plumule or radicle or both parts of the propagules of Rhizophora mucronata Poir (sample size = 30). The electric current-treated propagules and untreated control were cultured hydroponically in sea water for 75 days, and root and shoot growth parameters measured. The root elongation was significantly influenced by duration of exposure, site of propagule treated and combined effects of current intensity x site of propagule treated. Leaf number and area were significantly influenced by intensity of electric current and duration of exposure; whereas shoot elongation was affected by the duration of exposure. The root number was significantly affected by duration of exposure. In general, the electric impulse improved the growth characteristics of shoot and root.

Plant regeneration from single-nodal-stem explants of legume tree Prosopis alba Griseb

Seeds of Prosopis alba were scarified with abrasive paper and placed to germinate on MS (Murashige and Skoog 1962) nutrient medium. After 7 days of culture, the basal part of cotyledons was removed and pieces of 4 mm" from distal parts were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (1962) mineral salts and vitamins (MS) (3 sucrose) supplemented with growth regulators. Callus proliferation took place in the majority of the media tested. A low percentage of calluses with green buds that developed on MS basal medium containing 0.1 mg.L-1 2,4-D alone or supplemented with BAP at 0.1 mg.L-1 was observed. Neither cotyledonary segments in any medium assayed regenerated the whole plants. Bud elongation (near 70) was achieved when single-nodal-stem segments cut from 20 days old seedlings were cultured on MS salts supplemented with 3 mg.L-1 NAA or 3 mg.L-1 IBA combined with 0.05 mg.L-1 KIN after 60 days in culture. Multiple shoots per bud were also observed. Single-nodal-stem segments from five-year-old plants were also cultured on the same media used for seedling explants. Maximal frequency of explants with bud elongation (near 70) was found on MS with 0.1 mg.L-1 NAA plus 1 mg.L-1 BAP after 60 days of culture. Single-nodal-stem explants cut from adult trees (more than 20 years) were also employed, but the number of bud elongation was lesser. For rooting, the elongated shoots were transferred to a semisolid or liquid MS culture medium employing a paper bridge, supplemented with 0.5 mg.L-1 IBA or 0.1 mg.L-1 NAA.

Comportamento de ácidos hidroxicinâmicos e polissacarídeos no endurecimento pós-colheita de feijöes (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) / Hydroxycinnamic acids and polissacarides comportament beans postharvest hardening (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

O armazenamento prolongado de feijöes (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) em condiçöes de temperatura e umidade elevadas provoca o endurecimento da semente com aumento do tempo de cocçäo. A causa deste fenômeno ainda näo foi bem esclarecida. Os ácidos hidroxicinâmicos parecem desempenhar um papel importante no seu desenvolvimento. Neste trabalho foi realizada a extraçäo e quantificaçäo por HPLC dos ácidos fenólicos livres e esterificados presentes no cotilédone de feijöes controle; e de feijöes armazenados por períodos de 3, 6 e 9 meses nas seguintes condiçöes: 30ºC e 75 por cento UR, 15ºC e 33 por cento UR e 4ºC. Realizou-se também hidrólise enzimática para a obtençäo da parede celular solúvel e insolúvel, as quais foram analisadas por espectroscopia do infravermelho com transformada de Fourier (FT-IR) para observar as mudanças nos seus constituintes, bem como a determinaçäo por HPLC dos tipos de monossacarídeos presentes nas mesmas...