Guadalupe Salcedo-Morales

Beta vulgaris L. suspension cultures permeabilized with triton X-100 retain cell viability and betacyanines production ability: a digital image analysis study.

The influence of Triton X‐100 on Beta vulgaris L. permeabilized cell culture viability, regrowth, and ability to produce betacyanines was evaluated in this study. A non‐destructive method based on the analysis of images in the RGB (red, green, blue) system was developed to estimate betacyanines content. A treatment for 15 min with 0.7 mM Triton X‐100 induced the release of 30% of betacyanines without loss of cell viability (≥70%). After this permeabilization treatment, B. vulgaris cultures regrew normally, reaching a maximum biomass concentration of 48% higher than non‐permeabilized cultures after 14 days of culture. Also, maximum betacyanines concentration was only 25% lower than that of non‐permeabilized cultures.

Anatomical and histochemical characterization of in vitro haustorium from roots of Castilleja tenuiflora

In vitro induction of haustoria from Castilleja tenuiflora Benth. was achieved by applying 25 μM catechin, 25 μM vanillin, or 25 μM H2O2. Of the treatments tested, 25 μM vanillin was the strongest inducer of haustoria in C. tenuiflora roots in vitro (up to 3 haustoria per root). Haustorium development occurred laterally and was observable 14 d after inducer application. It was characterized by elongation of the epidermal cells and division of the inner cortical cells which also possessed abundant nuclei. Histochemical analysis using 3,3-diaminobenzidine (DAB) and diphenylboric acid 2-aminoethyl ester (DBPA) indicated that the formation of haustoria was associated with the accumulation of H2O2 and flavonoids.