Hazel Y. Wetzstein

AFLP analysis of variation in pecan somatic embryos

Abstract Before somatic embryogenesis can be applied, the genetic fidelity of cultures needs to be determined. Problematic of tissue-cultured woody species is the extensive evaluation time needed for assessments. The development of methods whereby plants could be rapidly screened for potential tissue culture-derived genetic changes would be very valuable. We evaluated the applicability of AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphism) analysis for the assessment of genetic variability in somatic embryos of pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) C. Koch] and made comparisons between and within embryogenic culture lines. AFLP readily detected differences between culture lines, with 368 polymorphic loci identified. Individual culture lines generally produced somatic embryos with similar overall banding patterns. Embryos derived from the same culture line generally grouped together in a phenogram generated by UPGMA (unweighted pair-group method, arithmetic average) analysis. However, a few somatic embryos exhibited higher levels of polymorphism and failed to group with others regenerated from the same line. The relation between the detected within-line differences and their contribution to phenotypic variation is yet to be determined.

A morphological and histological comparison of the initiation and development of pecan (Carya illinoinensis) somatic embryogenic cultures induced with naphthaleneacetic acid or 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid

SummarySomatic embryos produced in vitro may exhibit structural abnormalities that affect their subsequent germination and conversion into plants. To assess the influence of auxin type on embryo initiation and development, a morphological and histological comparison was made of pecan (Carya illinoinensis) somatic embryogenic cultures induced on media with naphthaleneacetic acid or 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), using light and scanning electron microscopy. Both auxins promoted enhanced cell division, particularly in subepidermal cell layers. However, notable differences were observed in mitotic activity, location of embryogenic cell proliferation, epidermal continuity, callus growth, and embryo morphology. Cultures induced on naphthaleneacetic acid had embryogenic regions composed of homogeneous, isodiametric, meristematic cells. Embryos derived from these cultures generally had a normal morphology, were single, and had a discrete apical meristem. In contrast, tissues induced on media with 2,4-D had more intense and heterogeneous regions of cell division. Proliferating cell regions were composed of meristematic cells interspersed with callus and involved more extensive regions of the mesophyll. Marked callus proliferation caused epidermal rupture in some areas. Embryos induced on medium with 2,4-D had a higher incidence of abnormalities that included fasciated, fan-shaped, and tubular embryos. Defined apical meristems were often lacking or partially obliterated due to callus proliferation. The heterogeneous, often intensive proliferation of cells in cultures induced with 2,4-D may interfere with normal patterns of embryo development.

Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from leaflets of peanut, Arachis hypogaea.

Somatic embryos were induced on peanut (Arachis hypogaea) leaflets from aseptically germinated embryo axes. Leaflet size influenced percent somatic embryogenesis; 5–8 mm long cut leaflets were superior to 2–3 mm long uncut leaflets. Maximum embryogenesis of 14.6% was obtained after a 15 d incubation on induction medium (modified MS with B5 vitamins, 30 g/l sucrose, 4 g/l Gel-Gro, 40 mg/l 2,4-D +0.2 mg/l kinetin) followed by transfer to a secondary medium with 5 mg/l 2,4-D+0.2 mg/l kinetin. Primary somatic embryos were fused along the axes with no distinct cotyledons, but secondary embryos had single axes with two cotyledons. Other treatments had lower percent embryogenesis, no secondary embryogenesis, and embryos with single axes with two cotyledons. Some somatic embryos converted into normal plants capable of greenhouse survival.

The relationship between somatic embryo morphology and conversion in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Abstract Somatic embryos differentiated from immature cotyledonary explants in peanut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) exhibited very divergent morphologies. A classification system of six types of somatic embryos was developed based on axis and cotyledon development, and whether embryos were fused or single; classes were evaluated histologically. Embryo morphology was related to conversion percentage and plant habit but not conversion rate. The 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) level in the induction medium did not affect embryo rooting or conversion and had little effect on embryo morphology. Overall conversion was 27% without embryo preselection. Bipolar, more typically normal embryos, had well defined shoot apices and produced single axis plants; conversion was 40–47%. Broad, fan-shaped embryos had about 38% conversion, and produced plants with fused stems and multiple branches; these embryos had multiple meristematic regions. Horn-shaped embryos greened, but generally failed to exhibit shoot growth; only 7% converted. Lower conversion rates in some classes were associated with poorly developed shoot meristematic areas. Regenerated plants flowered and set seed. Progeny exhibited general growth characteristics of the cultivar.

Influence of auxin type and concentration on peanut somatic embryogenesis

Somatic embryogenesis in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) using immature cotyledonary explants was induced on a wide range of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) (5 to 60mg l−1) and naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) (20 to 50 mg l−1) levels. Percent embryogenesis ranged from 31 to 94%. As auxin level increased in induction medium, percent embryogenesis decreased and was associated with browning of explants. However, with higher 2,4-D induction levels (40 mg l−1 and over), embryogenic explants had dense masses of embryogenic areas and repetitive embryogenesis was enhanced. Higher auxin concentrations during induction decreased precocious germination of embryos, but had no marked effect on somatic embryo morphology. The use of 2,4-D compared to NAA in the induction medium resulted in greater per cent embryogenesis and mean number of embryos. Embryos induced on NAA were harder, less pliant, and less succulent; cultures exhibited more extensive root development and nonembryogenic callus proliferation.

Field resistance to Tomato spotted wilt virus in transgenic peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) expressing an antisense nucleocapsid gene sequence

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) lines transgenic for the antisense nucleocapsid (N) gene of a Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) strain isolated from peanut were generated by microprojectile-mediated transformation of repetitive somatic embryos of cultivars VC1 and AT120. The selectable marker (hygromycin resistance) and the N gene were on separate plasmids. A total of 207 VC1 and 120 AT120 hygromycin-resistant lines were produced. Of all the VC1 plants recovered 71% were cotransformed with the N gene (N+), but all plants were sterile. For AT120, 48 of the transgenic cell lines converted into plants. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening showed 15 of the lines were transgenic for the N gene (N+), and two of these lines were fertile. A field test was conducted in 1998 at Ashburn, GA, using seeds from each fertile line, along with segregated and non-transgenic controls. Plants from four randomly selected field plots were examined for symptoms and analyzed by double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay and PCR at 10 and 14 weeks after planting. At 14 weeks, 76% of the N+ plants were symptomless, while 2% were severely symptomatic or dead. In contrast, only 42% of the plants lacking the N gene were symptomless and 50% were severely symptomatic or dead. Northern blot analysis of selected field-resistant plants detected transgene RNA, and the transcript level appeared undiminished after viral exposure.

Stable integration and expression of β-glucuronidase and NPT II genes in mango somatic embryos

SummarySomatic proembryos of mango (Mangifera indica L. cv. Hindi) were co-cultivated withAgrobacterium tumefaciens strain A208 harboring pTiT37-Se::pMON 9749 (9749 ASE). Transformed somatic proembryos capable of growing on selection medium containing 200 μg/ml kanamycin produced the characteristic indigo blue precipitate in the presence of 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-glucuronic acid. These proembryos were chimeral consisting of transformed (blue) and nontransformed (yellow/white) cells. A stepwise selection strategy was found necessary to eliminate chimeras. a) Initial screening at 200 μg/ml kanamycin to enable growth of transformed cells, b) further screening at 400 μg/ml kanamycin to reduce chimeras, and c) recovery of pure transformed clones of proembryos in liquid selection medium with 100 μg/ml kanamycin. The integration of the NPT II and GUS genes into mango genome was confirmed by Southern hybridization.

Further characterization of somatic embryogenesis and plantlet regeneration in pecan (Carya illinoensis)

Abstract The effects of cultivar, sampling date, tree-source of explants, and duration on conditioning medium on somatic embryogenesis in pecan (Carya illinoensis) were examined. Zygotic embryos were collected from cultivars ‘Stuart’ and ‘Desirable’ 12–18 weeks post-pollination, cultured for 1 or 3 weeks on a woody plant medium (WPM) for conditioning supplemented with 2 mg/l2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 0.25 mg/l benzylaminopurine (BAP), then transferred to basal WPM for embryo induction. Somatic embryos became visible as early as 2 weeks following transfer to a hormone-free medium. Embryogenic response after 10 weeks on basal medium varied significantly between cultivars and among sampling dates within cultivars. Immature zygotic embryos collected in a developmental stage of rapid cotyledon expansion 15 weeks post-pollination gave the highest embryogenic response, which was 54.7% in ‘Desirable’ and 85.2% in ‘Stuart’ after 10 weeks on basal medium. There was no significant effect of duration on conditioning medium on embryogenic response in either cultivar. The effect of different trees as explant sources was not significant in ‘Stuart’ but was significant in ‘Desirable’. Conversion of somatic embryos to plantlets hase been obtained in limited numbers following desiccation treatments and transfer of embryos to light.

The effect of auxin type and concentration on pecan (Carya illinoinensis) somatic embryo morphology and subsequent conversion into plants

SummaryEmbryogenic cultures were initiated from immature pecan zygotic embryos. Explants were induced for one week on Woody Plant Medium with either α-naphthaleneacetic acid or 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid at 2, 6 or 12 mg/l, then subcultured monthly to fresh basal medium. Observations were made on callus production, embryo formation, and embryo morphology. Somatic embryo morphology and overall callus proliferation were affected by auxin type. Callus proliferation was less extensive and more somatic embryos resembling zygotic embryos were obtained from cultures initiated with α-naphthaleneacetic acid than with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Repetitive somatic embryogenesis was obtained in all auxin treatments. Conversion into plantlets was affected by somatic embryo morphology in that embryos with poorly developed apices exhibited lower percentages of conversion than those with well developed single or multiple apices. Consequently, although more embryos were obtained with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, naphthaleneacetic acid was the superior auxin for production of somatic embryos more likely to convert into plants.

Anti-tumorigenic activity of five culinary and medicinal herbs grown under greenhouse conditions and their combination effects.

BACKGROUND Herbs and spices have been used as food preservatives, flavorings, and in traditional medicines for thousands of years. More and more scientific evidence supports the medicinal properties of culinary herbs. Colon cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in the USA, and the fourth most common form of cancer worldwide. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the antitumor activity of five selected herbs grown under greenhouse conditions, and to study the potential synergistic effects among different herbal extract combinations. RESULTS Thyme, rosemary, sage, spearmint, and peppermint extracts significantly inhibited SW-480 colon cancer cell growth, with sage extracts exhibiting the highest bioactivity, with 50% inhibition at 35.9 µg mL⁻¹, which was equivalent to 93.9 µg dried leaves mL⁻¹ of culture medium. Some mixtures of different herbal extracts had combination effects on cancer cell growth. The inhibitory effects of peppermint + sage combinations at a 1:1 ratio were significantly higher than rosemary + sage combinations at 1:1 ratio, although peppermint extracts showed lower inhibition than rosemary extracts. CONCLUSION Extracts from herb species (thyme, rosemary, sage, spearmint and peppermint) can significantly inhibit the growth of human colon cancer cells. Mixtures of herb extracts can have combination effects on cancer cell growth. The study suggests that these five herbs may have potential health benefits to suppress colon cancer.