Leslaw Przywara

Length of stomata as an indicator of ploidy level in Actinidia deliciosa

Abstract The suitability of stomatal length as a criterion in the distinction between haploid (2n=85) and diploid (2n=170) plants of Actinidia deliciosa (A. Chev.) C.-F. Liang et A.R. Ferguson (kiwifruit); was tested. Seedlings and mature plants for this study were grown in a glasshouse. Mean stomatal lengths were 26.4±2.4 μm for haploids and 37.9±3.8 μm for diploids in the seedlings, and 24±1.7 μm and 33±2.4 μm, respectively, in mature plants. The means from haploid plants did not overlap with the means from diploid plants (significance at less than 0.001%) in 374 plants evaluated. It is concluded that measurement of stomata length is a rapid technique for identifying ploidy level in kiwifruit.

Extracellular matrix surface network during plant regeneration in wheat anther culture

Androgenic plant regeneration from wheat anther callus was accompanied by the formation of a conspicuous extracellular matrix surface network (ECMSN) around the induced callus cells and young embryo-like structures. Microscopic observations at the onset of regeneration revealed the presence of two distinct types of cells on the callus surface: large, loosely attached parenchymatous cells and small tightly packed meristematic cells arranged in multicellular clusters. Parenchyma cells of the callus had smooth surface, while on the surface and between the cells of multicellular clusters numerous fine fibrils of ECMSN were observed. The structural arrangement of the ECMSN changed during culture. On the surface of globular embryo-like structures, before protoderm formation, the ECMSN was the most abundant and arranged as a compact layer of secretion with wide strands visible at the cell junctions. Further development of globular embryos was disturbed, giving rise to branched structures outlined by continuous epidermis. The development of such regenerants was accompanied by gradual degradation of the extracellular network and finally its complete disappearance. Digestion with protease did not destroy the network. Treatment of the calluses with chloroform and washing with ether–methanol led to partial destruction of the network, while digestion with pectinase removed the network completely and resulted in the collapse of surface embryo cells.

Two pathways of plant regeneration in wheat anther culture

The anthers of 10 Polish winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars were used for the induction of androgenesis and plant regeneration. The highest rate of callus induction (9.1%) and green plant production (0.8%) was obtained with the cultivar Apollo that was chosen for histological analysis. The first androgenic division was symmetrical and occurred after 3 weeks of culture. Further divisions of newly formed cells gave rise to multicellular structures which followed two developmental pathways: callus production or direct embryo formation. Plant regeneration was observed in both pathways. Chromosome counting of plantlets regenerated showed that haploid metaphases 2n=3x=21 were the most frequent.

Embryological study on gynogenesis in onion (Allium cepa L.)

Abstract  Haploid induction in onion can, to date, be induced only via gynogenesis by culturing unfertilized flowers, ovaries or ovules. The process of haploid embryo induction has been macroscopically well studied, but only limited data exist from microscopic examination of ovule development status at the inoculation stage and of the origin of gynogenic embryos. Microscopic studies were carried out using individual donor plants with relatively high embryo induction frequencies (45.9 embryos formed per 100 flowers, on average, for 2 years). Ovaries from flower bud culture were fixed at 1 week intervals up to the 7th week of culture. These were compared with pollinated ovaries at 1 or 2 weeks after pollination. In total, 1428 unfertilized embryo sacs were examined. The results indicate that, at the time of inoculation, ovules within ovaries 2.0–3.0 mm in diameter contained two- or four-nucleate embryo sacs in the smallest ovaries to mature embryo sacs in the largest ovaries. It seems likely that the embryos are actually induced from ovaries cultured at the immature stage. After 1 or 2 weeks in culture, the egg apparatus primarily consisted of distinctly enlarged synergids and the egg cell, which was often detached from the micropylar pole. But free nuclear endosperm was also formed. From the 2nd to 7th week in culture, formation of haploid embryos (from globular to the almost mature cylindrical stage) was detected in 5.7% of the ovules. Their origin, for several reasons, was most likely the egg cell. In addition, ovules containing endosperm only (3.6%) and ovules containing the egg apparatus (0.5%) or both endosperm and embryo (0.4%) were detected. This observation is probably unique and has not yet been reported in other species studied.

The development of onion (Allium cepa L.) Embryo sacs in vitro and gynogenesis induction in relation to flower size

SummaryThe development of embryo sacs (ES) in vitro and induction of gynogenesis were studied in onion flower bud culture. Explants were divided into three groups according to their size at inoculation: (a) small flower buds (2.3–3.0 mm in diameter); (b) medium flower buds (3.1–3.7 mm); and (c) large flower buds (3.8–4.4 mm). For histological study, excised ovaries were fixed at inoculation and then at 3-d intervals until day 12, and after 2 and 3 wk of culture. Some explants were cultured until embryo emergence, i.e., 3–5 mo. In total, 2592 ovules were examined histologically. At inoculation, 83% of ovules in small flower buds contained a megaspore mother cell; in 17% of ovules, two-nucleate ES occurred. In medium flower buds two-nucleate, four-nucleate, and mature ES were present at frequencies of 15%, 46%, and 40%, respectively. In large flower buds, only mature ES occurred. In vitro conditions did not disturb meiosis and megagametophyte development in non-degenerated ovules. Regardless of the developmental stage at inoculation, only mature ES occurred on day 12. Gynogenic embryos were found after 2 wk of culture, indicating that embryos developed in mature ES exclusively. Embryos were detected in 5.4% of histological studied ovules; however, the number of embryos after 3–5 mo. was higher (12.4%). The parthenogenetic origin of the embryos is discussed. In addition, ES containing endosperm only (6.5%) and both endosperm and embryo (0.4%) were observed.

Exogenous carbohydrate utilisation by explants of Brassica napus cultured in vitro

The influence of carbohydrate type (sucrose, maltose, glucose and fructose) used as carbon source in the medium on particular carbohydrates content in hypocotyls of Brassica napus cv. Topas during in vitro culture was studied. The variability in sugar composition in the explants depending on carbon source in the medium and duration of culture was found. The type of sugar did not influence the growth of cultured tissues during the first 15–20 days of culture. Sugars in the medium were main source of substrates for sucrose synthesis in growing explants. Significant re-synthesis of sucrose in the hypocotyls after the uptake of hexoses was found. Maltose was detected only in traces in tissues cultured on media devoid of this sugar. In the case of glucose and fructose, medium was the main source of these monosaccharides for tissues. In explants cultured on maltose-based medium, glucose content was lower comparing to hypocotyls cultured on sucrose medium. The highest fresh weight (FW) was noticed on the media supplied with sucrose and glucose. Changes in sugar content in culture media were also studied. Autoclaving hydrolysed ∼7% of the initial sucrose into glucose and fructose. The most distinct changes were noticed in the media supplied with sucrose and maltose. Glucose- and fructose-based media remained stable during whole period of culture.

Autonomous endosperm induction by in vitro culture of unfertilized ovules of Viola odorata L.

Abstract Autonomous endosperm was found in unfertilized ovules of V. odorata L. cultured on MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D as a sole growth regulator or on media with 2,4-D and BAP or kinetin. Frequency of endosperm induction was approximately 9% in ovules analyzed. The induction rate depended mainly on genotype of the donor plant, and to lesser degrees, on floral stage, flower series and medium type. Multinuclear endosperms consisting of 10–37 nuclei were found in ovules after as few as 4 days of culture. In some ovules at this stage, the egg cell and two polar nuclei were present. The process of endosperm degeneration began after 3 weeks of culture. In some ovules, degenerating autonomous endosperm was observed up to the 7th week. Parthenogenetic development of egg cells or apogamy did not accompany autonomous endosperm, supporting the hypothesis of independent pathways for embryo and endosperm development.

The reticuloplasmin calreticulun is released into the medium by carrot cell cultures

We report here the presence of a 58-kDa protein in the cells of Daucus carota L. cultivated in vitro. Two lines of carrot cells are used: wild-type line (wt) and mutant line (ts11). We describe here also presence of this protein in the media of cultured cells. Strong reaction of this intracellular and extracellular protein with an anti-calreticulin antiserum indicates that it is a major high capacity, low affinity Ca2+-binding reticuloplasmin–calreticulin. No differences in biochemical characterization is found between calreticulin purified from the wild-type line and the mutant line. Moreover molecular mass, type of glycosylation and the ability of extracellular protein to bind calcium is found to be indistinguishable from those of the purified intracellular calreticulin. Calreticulin release is attributed to some stress imposed on cultured cells by growth conditions. It is shown that this process can be also induced in CR-non-releasing systems such as carrot somatic embryos by applying a high-cell-density stress.