Assessment of the potentiality of TDZ on multiple shoot induction in Bauhinia tomentosa L., a woody legume.

An efficient and reproducible protocol for in vitro multiplication of Bauhinia tomentosa L. was developed. Multiple shoots were regenerated from cotyledonary node and stem nodal segments excised from in vitro raised seedlings on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations (0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.8 and 1.0 µM) of thidiazuron (TDZ). The maximum response (62.6%) was recorded on MS medium amended with 0.8 µM TDZ. A long exposure to TDZ for 8 weeks showed abnormalities such as fasciation and compact shoots formation. To avoid adverse effects of prolonged exposure to TDZ in long-term establishment, the culture were transferred to TDZ free MS medium for further multiplication and elongation. The highest number of shoots and shoot length were recorded at the end of fourth subculture passage. Ex vitro rooting was achieved when the basal cut end of regenerated shoots were dipped in 200 µM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) for half an hour followed by their transplantation in plastic pots filled with sterile Soilrite™ where 60% plantlets grew well and all expressed normal development.

Assessment of factors affecting micropropagation and ex vitro acclimatization of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L.

Rapid differentiation of multiple shoots was observed in 94% of nodal explants of one year old Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. plants. Shoot bud induction and multiplication took place on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with two cytokinins, i.e. Benzyladenine (BA) or Kinetin (Kn) either alone or in combination with different auxins, indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) or α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). Between different media, pH levels and growth regulators tried, the optimum condition for maximum regenerative response was obtained on MS + Kn (2.5 µM) + N AA (0.5 µM) media at 5.8 pH, forming cultures with 23.26 ± 0.89 number of shoots and 6.36 ± 0.80 cm shoot length after 8 weeks of culture. Histological sections confirmed the formation of multiple buds from nodal explants. Rooting was achieved ex vitro by dipping the basal ends of microshoots in 200 µM IBA for 30 min followed by their transplantation in sterile soilrite. The plantlets with well-developed shoot and root system were successfully established in garden soil and grown outside in a greenhouse with a 80% survival rate.

In vitro adventitious shoot regeneration via indirect organogenesis from petiole explants of Cassia angustifolia Vahl.-a potential medicinal plant.

An effective protocol was developed for in vitro regeneration of the Cassia angustifolia via indirect organogenesis from petiole explants excised from 21-day-old axenic seedlings. Organogenic callus were induced on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 5.0 µM 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid and 2.5 µM thidiazuron (TDZ). Adventitious shoot regeneration was achieved on MS medium supplemented with 5.0 µM TDZ as it induced 8.5 ± 0.98 shoots in 85% cultures. The number of shoots and shoot length was significantly enhanced when cultures were subcultured on auxin-cytokinin-containing medium. The highest number of shoots (12.5 ± 1.10) and shoot length (4.3 ± 0.20 cm) was recorded on MS medium supplemented with 5.0 µM TDZ and 1.5 µM indole-3-acetic acid. Regenerated shoots were rooted best on MS medium supplemented with 10.0 µM indole-3-butyric acid followed by their transfer to liquid MS filter paper bridge medium. The plants were successfully hardened off in sterile soilrite followed by their establishment in garden soil with 70% survival rate. The plants showed normal morphological characteristics similar to the field grown plants.

A phase III study of high-dose intensification without hematopoietic progenitor cells support for patients with high-risk primary breast carcinoma.

Patients with more than nine ipsilateral lymph node involvement or inflammatory breast cancer have a 5-year survival rate of approximately 50%. We studied the efficacy of high-dose intensification, comparing it with the standard dose chemotherapy for patients with high-risk primary breast cancer. Patients with inflammatory breast cancer or more than nine ipsilateral lymph node involvement without evidence of distant metastasis were randomized to receive either standard dose 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FAC) every 3 weeks for nine courses (control) or six courses of FAC followed by two courses of cyclophosphamide (5.25 g/m2), etoposide (1,500 mg/m2), and cisplatin (165 mg/m2) (HDCVP). The study was terminated in 1998 because of slow accrual of patients. Forty-six patients were entered in the study. At 4 years, the overall survival was 72.8% (SE 11.9%) and 61.7% (SE 12.4%), and disease-free survival were 45.5% (SE 12.3%) and 33.7% (SE 11.9%) for the control and HDCVP groups, respectively (p = 0.757 and 0.720). With the small number of patients in our study, a small overall survival benefit of high-dose intensification compared with the standard therapy cannot be excluded. However, any substantial benefit is unlikely.

Host Status of Thirteen Acacia Species to Meloidogyne javanica.

Thirteen indigenous and exotic Acacia species grown in Saudi Arabia were evaluated for their host status for Meloidogyne javanica in pot tests both in the growth chamber and under outdoor conditions. In both experiments, 21-day-old seedlings were transplanted individually into 15-cm-diam. plastic pots containing a steam-sterilized mixture of equal parts loam and sandy loam. Seedlings were inoculated with 5,000 M. javanica eggs/plant 30 days later. After 120 days, fresh root weight, disease index (1-9 scale), the number of eggs/pot (Pf), eggs/g fresh root, and a reproductive factor (Rf) were determined. Results of both the growth chamber and the outdoor tests were similar. Species were grouped into host suitability categories according to Rf, and they were also grouped into resistance categories based on the sum of gall index, gall size, and percentage of the root system that was galled. Only A. salicina was a poor host and was resistant to M. javanica. Acacia farnisiana, A. gerrardii subsp. negevensis var. najdensis, and A. saligna were excellent hosts and highly susceptible. Both A. nilotica and A. stenophylla were classified as good hosts and highly susceptible, while A. ampliceps, A. ehrenbergiana, A. gerrardii subsp. negevensis var negevensis, A. sclerosperma, A. seyal, A. tortilis, and A. tortilis subsp. spirocarpa were also good hosts but were classified as susceptible rather than highly susceptible. This is the first report on the susceptibility of Acacia species to M. javanica in Saudi Arabia, including some new hosts worldwide.