Meristem culture and subsequent micropropagation of Chilean strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis (L.) Duch.)

The effect of growth regulators on the micro-shoots' regeneration of strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) in in vitro culture

The influence of various growth regulators on strawberry varieties' micro-shoots regeneration of Russian and foreign selection Bereginya, Tsaritsa, Urozhaynaya CGL, Frida, Asia, Kimberly, Honeoye, Marmolada has been established. The experiment involved micro-plants regenerated in in vitro culture. At the proliferation stage, 6-BAP, thidiazuron, kinetin, mival, succinic acid were added to the nutrient medium in specified concentrations to select the optimal growth regulator. The maximum response to the induction of additional shoots was obtained in explants cultivated on the control medium of Murashige and Skoog supplemented with 6-BAP. The positive effect of kinetin, thidiazuron, mival, succinic acid on the process of root formation was noted, which can accelerate the production of rooted plants ex vitro.

Propagation of phytosanitary clones by in vitro culture

This article presents the process of accelerated reproduction of healthy clones of grapes, including the following stages: growing young shoots of the original plants of clones, introducing tops into in vitro culture, microclonal cuttings, adaptation of microplants to ex vitro culture, transplanting into cassettes with a soil substrate, transferring plants to a greenhouse for growing to the condition of vegetative seedlings and planting in a pre-propagation mother stock. For the successful implementation of each of the above operations in the SPIHVFT, a Cultural Complex has been equipped, consisting of a number of interconnected premises: a sterile box, a culture chamber and a vegetation chamber. The use of this Complex allows multiplying the required number of plants during the year, to grow vegetative seedlings by the spring of the next year and plant them in the pre-propagation “Pre-base” mother plant. After a year, grafted vegetative seedlings grown from the vines of the mother plant were used for laying the mother stock.

De novo in vitro shoot morphogenesis from shoot tip-induced callus cultures of Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.) R.Br. ex Sm

Background

Gymnema sylvestre is a medicinal woody perennial vine known for its sweetening properties and anti-diabetic therapeutic uses in the modern and traditional medicines. Its over-exploitation for the therapeutic uses and to meet the demand of pharmaceutical industry in raw materials supply for the production of anti-diabetic drugs has led to considerable decline in its natural population.

Results

An efficient system of shoot bud sprouting from nodal segment explants and indirect plant regeneration from apical meristem-induced callus cultures of G. sylvestre have been developed on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium amended with concentrations of cytokinins. Of the three growth regulators tested, N⁶-benzylaminopurine (BAP) was the most efficient and 2.0 mg L⁻¹ gave the best shoot formation efficiency. This was followed by thidiazuron (TDZ) and kinetin (Kin) but, most of the TDZ-induced micro shoots showed stunted growth. Multiple shoot formation was observed on medium amended with BAP or TDZ at higher concentrations. The produced micro shoots were rooted on half strength MS medium amended with auxins and rooted plantlets acclimatized with 87% survival of the regenerates.

Conclusions

The developed regeneration system can be exploited for genetic transformation studies, particularly when aimed at producing its high yielding cell lines for the anti-diabetic phytochemicals. It also offers opportunities for exploring the expression of totipotency in the anti-diabetic perennial vine.