Gene expression profiling of shoot-derived calli from adult radiata pine and zygotic embryo-derived embryonal masses

Multiple analyses of various factors affecting the plantlet regeneration of Picea mongolica (H. Q. Wu) W.D. Xu from somatic embryos

Picea mongolica, a native species with excellent industrial wood quality and strong sand-fixing capacity, may be utilized in construction of urban green spaces in arid areas in China. However, now the sustainability of the ecosystems where this species grows is at serious risk due to a lack of natural regeneration. In this study, we developed an efficient regeneration system and comprehensively analyzed various factors affecting somatic embryogenesis (SE) using zygotic embryos as explants. We identified the optimal plant growth regulators (PGRs) performance and the best donor trees (k81) for the generation of somatic embryos (SEMs). Additionally, we confirmed that the positive developmental window of SEMs initiation was at the end of July to early August, which is when zygotic embryos was at the late embryogeny. In this time period, specific transcripts associated with the regulation of epigenetic modifications, plant hormone-related genes, and embryonic development-related transcription factors play important roles for early SEMs initiation. These results may provide a valuable resource for vegetative propagation of Picea mongolica. Our results may help to establish a reliable protocol for plantlet regeneration, which may facilitate urban greening applications and industrialization in arid areas.

Somatic Embryogenesis and Plant Regeneration From Primordial Shoot Explants of Picea abies (L.) H. Karst. Somatic Trees

The recalcitrance of adult conifer tissues has prevented vegetative propagation of trees with known and desired characteristics. Somatic embryogenesis (SE) initiation protocol, recently developed for white spruce (Picea glauca, Klimaszewska et al., 2011), was applied in order to examine the feasibility, frequency and timing of SE induction from primordial shoots (PS) of Norway spruce (P. abies). In total, 39 genotypes were screened from 2015 to 2017 using 4-6 years old trees of SE origin as explant donors. Two genotypes responded: 11Pa3794 produced six proliferating embryonal mass (EM) sublines and 11Pa4066 produced 23 EM sublines. SE initiations occurred at the beginning of April, when the temperature sum (d.d.) started to accumulate, and at the end of October or beginning of November when the chilling unit (ch.u.) sum was over 500. EM sublines from both genotypes contained numerous early somatic embryos as detected by acetocarmine staining. The sublines of 11Pa4066 produced the mean of 78.6 ± 12.8 cotyledonary somatic embryos /g FW, but 11Pa3794 produced only a few cotyledonary somatic embryos that were able to germinate. The original EM lines (from which the trees were regenerated) had produced the same number of somatic embryos in 2011 maturations, which was approximately 120 somatic embryos /g FW. Microsatellite analyses conducted with both responsive genotypes confirmed the genetic stability of the EM sublines compared with the donor trees growing in the field. SE protocol developed for white spruce PS explants was also suitable for PS of Norway spruce if the explants were in the responsive developmental stage.

Molecular Dissection of the Regenerative Capacity of Forest Tree Species: Special Focus on Conifers

Somatic embryogenesis (SE) and organogenesis have become leading biotechnologies for forest tree improvement and the implementation of multi-varietal forestry. Despite major advances in clonal propagation using these technologies, many forest tree species, such as conifers, show a low regeneration capacity. Developmental factors such as genotype, the type and age of the explant or tissue, and the age and maturity of the mother tree are limiting factors for the success of propagation programs. This review summarizes recent research on the molecular pathways involved in the regulation of key steps in SE and organogenesis of forest tree species, mainly conifers. The interaction between auxin and stress conditions, the induction of cell identity regulators and the role of cell wall remodeling are reviewed. This information is essential to develop tools and strategies to improve clonal propagation programs for forest tree species.

Gene expression analysis of primordial shoot explants collected from mature white spruce (Picea glauca) trees that differ in their responsiveness to somatic embryogenesis induction

Within a plantation of clonal somatic embryo-derived white spruce trees that belonged to four genotypes, one genotype (G6) has consistently responded for the last 16 years, to the induction of somatic embryogenesis within primordial shoot explants. Analysis of fourteen individuals within this genotype subsequently revealed a group of clonal trees that were nonresponsive. This in turn provided a unique opportunity to conduct differential gene expression analysis in the absence of genotype-specific factors. Absolute qPCR was first used to expand the analysis of several genes previously identified via microarray analysis to be differentially expressed during SE induction, along with the inclusion of two nonresponsive genotypes. While this demonstrated a high level of repeatability within, and between, responsive and nonresponsive genotypes, it did not support our previous contention that an adaptive stress response plays a role in SE induction responsiveness, at least with respect to the candidate genes we analyzed. RNAseq analysis was then used to compare responsive and nonresponsive G6 primordial shoots during the somatic embryogenesis induction treatment. Although not analyzed in this study, this included samples of callus and embryonal masses previously generated from G6 explants. In addition to revealing a large number of differentially expressed genes, de novo assembly of unmapped reads was used to generate over 25,000 contigs that potentially represent previously unidentified transcripts. This included a MADS-domain gene that was found to be the most highly differentially expressed gene within responsive shoot explants during the first seven days of the induction treatment.

Are Early Somatic Embryos of the Norway Spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) Organised?

Background

Somatic embryogenesis in conifer species has great potential for the forestry industry. Hence, a number of methods have been developed for their efficient and rapid propagation through somatic embryogenesis. Although information is available regarding the previous process-mediated generation of embryogenic cells to form somatic embryos, there is a dearth of information in the literature on the detailed structure of these clusters.

Methodology/Principal Findings

The main aim of this study was to provide a more detailed structure of the embryogenic tissue clusters obtained through the in vitro propagation of the Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). We primarily focused on the growth of early somatic embryos (ESEs). The data on ESE growth suggested that there may be clear distinctions between their inner and outer regions. Therefore, we selected ESEs collected on the 56^th day after sub-cultivation to dissect the homogeneity of the ESE clusters. Two colourimetric assays (acetocarmine and fluorescein diacetate/propidium iodide staining) and one metabolic assay based on the use of 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride uncovered large differences in the metabolic activity inside the cluster. Next, we performed nuclear magnetic resonance measurements. The ESE cluster seemed to be compactly aggregated during the first four weeks of cultivation; thereafter, the difference between the ¹H nuclei concentration in the inner and outer clusters was more evident. There were clear differences in the visual appearance of embryos from the outer and inner regions. Finally, a cluster was divided into six parts (three each from the inner and the outer regions of the embryo) to determine their growth and viability. The innermost embryos (centripetally towards the cluster centre) could grow after sub-cultivation but exhibited the slowest rate and required the longest time to reach the common growth rate. To confirm our hypothesis on the organisation of the ESE cluster, we investigated the effect of cluster orientation on the cultivation medium and the influence of the change of the cluster’s three-dimensional orientation on its development. Maintaining the same position when transferring ESEs into new cultivation medium seemed to be necessary because changes in the orientation significantly affected ESE growth.

Conclusions and Significance

This work illustrated the possible inner organisation of ESEs. The outer layer of ESEs is formed by individual somatic embryos with high metabolic activity (and with high demands for nutrients, oxygen and water), while an embryonal group is directed outside of the ESE cluster. Somatic embryos with depressed metabolic activity were localised in the inner regions, where these embryonic tissues probably have a very important transport function.