Histological investigation of walnut cotyledon fragments for a better understanding of in vitro adventitious root initiation

Desiccation as a Post-maturation Treatment Helps Complete Maturation of Norway Spruce Somatic Embryos: Carbohydrates, Phytohormones and Proteomic Status

Exposure of Norway spruce (Picea abies) somatic embryos and those of many other conifers to post-maturation desiccation treatment significantly improves their germination. An integration analysis was conducted to understand the underlying processes induced during the desiccation phase at the molecular level. Carbohydrate, protein and phytohormone assays associated with histological and proteomic studies were performed for the evaluation of markers and actors in this phase. Multivariate comparison of mature somatic embryos with mature desiccated somatic embryos and/or zygotic embryos provided new insights into the processes involved during the desiccation step of somatic embryogenesis. Desiccated embryos were characterized by reduced levels of starch and soluble carbohydrates but elevated levels of raffinose family oligosaccharides. Desiccation treatment decreased the content of abscisic acid and its derivatives but increased total auxins and cytokinins. The content of phytohormones in dry zygotic embryos was lower than in somatic embryos, but their profile was mostly analogous, apart from differences in cytokinin profiles. The biological processes "Acquisition of desiccation tolerance", "Response to stimulus", "Response to stress" and "Stored energy" were activated in both the desiccated somatic embryos and zygotic embryos when compared to the proteome of mature somatic embryos before desiccation. Based on the specific biochemical changes of important constituents (abscisic acid, raffinose, stachyose, LEA proteins and cruciferins) induced by the desiccation treatment and observed similarities between somatic and zygotic P. abies embryos, we concluded that the somatic embryos approximated to a state of desiccation tolerance. This physiological change could be responsible for the reorientation of Norway spruce somatic embryos toward a stage suitable for germination.

Molecular cloning and characterization of the genes encoding an auxin efflux carrier and the auxin influx carriers associated with the adventitious root formation in mango (Mangifera indica L.) cotyledon segments

Polar auxin transport (PAT) plays an important role in the adventitious root formation of mango cotyledon segments, but the molecular mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we cloned a gene encoding an auxin efflux carrier (designated as MiPIN1), and we cloned four genes encoding auxin influx carriers (designated as MiAUX1, MiAUX2, MiAUX3 and MiAUX4). The results of a phylogenetic tree analysis indicated that MiPIN1 and the MiAUXs belong to plant PIN and AUXs/LAXs groups. Quantitative real-time PCR indicated that the expression of MiPIN1 and the MiAUXs was lowest at 0 days but sharply increased on and after day 4. During the root formation in the mango cotyledon segments, the MiPIN1 expression in the distal cut surface (DCS) was always higher than the expression in the proximal cut surface (PCS) whereas the expression of the MiAUXs in the PCS was usually higher than in the DCS. This expression pattern might be result in the PAT from the DCS to the PCS, which is essential for the adventitious root formation in the PCS. Our previous study indicated that a pre-treatment of embryos with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) significantly promoted adventitious rooting in PCS whereas a pre-treatment with 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) completely inhibited this rooting. In this study, however, IBA and TIBA pre-treatments slightly changed the expression of MiPIN1. In contrast, while the MiAUX3 and MiAUX4 expression levels were significantly up-regulated by the IBA pre-treatment, the expression levels were down-regulated by the TIBA pre-treatment. These findings imply that MiAUX3 and MiAUX4 are more sensitive to the IBA and TIBA treatments and that they might play important roles during adventitious root formation in mango cotyledon segments.

Structural and ultrastructural analysis of root primordia in vitro cultures (RPC) of Solanum lycopersicoides Dun

The structure and ultrastructure of cell aggregates and derived root primordia were analysed in established suspension cultures of Solanum lycopersicoides Dun. A total of four modified Murashige and Skoog (1962) (MS) media were used, two containing alpha-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and two containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Considerable differences were observed in the size and structure of the aggregates regardless of the medium. The largest aggregates had a four-zone structure (cover, starch, dividing and differentiation zones) with distinct ultrastructural organization. The degree of histological and ultrastructural differentiation in the aggregates indicated rhizogenesis initiation. It begins with the protrusion of mounds of root primordia, which are the result of radial growth of cells in defined zones of the aggregate. Further growth from the primordium forms a root meristem with three tiers initial centre and wholly distinguished histogens (dermatogen, periblem, plerome). Rhizogenesis was more regular on media with NAA than on media with 2,4-D. Primordia and fully organized roots were liberated due to fragmentation of the aggregate and underwent changes in the permanently active developmental cycle of the culture which gave rise to successive generations of aggregates. Growth regulators had different influences on the organellar composition and phenolic compounds presence in the different zones of aggregates.