Efficient plant regeneration from multiple shoots formed in the leaf-derived callus of Lavandula vera, using the "open culture system".
Abstract To develop an efficient procedure for plant regeneration from leaf-derived callus of Lavandula vera DC, the production of multiple shoots and the formation of roots from these shoots were studied. When calli were cultured in a medium with 4.0×10−7 M N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N′-phenylurea (CPPU), urea-type cytokinin, multiple shoots were obtained from the greenish surface of the callus efficiently at a rate of 52.2%. For multiple shoot development, the shoots were divided into 7–20 shoot clusters with 2–3 shoots and subcultured every 2 weeks. Two modified culture-systems were employed for subculture; a “closed culture system” and an “open culture system”. In the open-system, shoot clusters grew and elongated vigorously. In the closed-system, most of the clusters showed vitrification and did not elongate. In root induction culture, shoot clusters in the open-system were well rooted and grew vigorously, the highest rate of root formation being 74.0%, in the 1 2 MS medium supplemented with 1.0×10−6 M indoleacetic acid (IAA). On the other hand, shoot clusters in the closed-system showed vitrification and did not root well. About seven times more regenerants were obtained from the multiple shoots than from normal shoots treated with 4.4×10−6 M 6-benzylamino purine (BA), a purine-type cytokinin. These results indicate that efficient plant regeneration in L. vera from callus using multiple shoots is possible by means of an open-system.
Urea derivatives on the move: cytokinin-like activity and adventitious rooting enhancement depend on chemical structure.
Urea derivatives are synthetic compounds, some of which have proved to be positive regulators of cell division and differentiation. N-phenyl-N'-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)urea (forchlorofenuron, CPPU) and N-phenyl-N'-(1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-yl)urea (thidiazuron, TDZ), well known urea cytokinin representatives, are extensively used in in vitro plant morphogenesis studies, as they show cytokinin-like activity often exceeding that of adenine compounds. In recent years, renewed interest in structure-activity relationship studies allowed identification of new urea cytokinins and other urea derivatives that specifically enhance adventitious root formation. In this review, we report the research history of urea derivatives, new insights into their biological activity, and recent progress on their mode of action.
Investigations on the rôle of organic matter in plant nutrition
1. As the result of decomposition of green manure in a swamp soil, the coarse fractions (including coarse and fine sand) of the surface layer (first 3 inches) decreased by 11·2 per cent. while the fine ones (silt+clay) increased by 9·8 per cent. in the course of 43 days. The effect was less pronounced in the manured soil maintained at 60 per cent. saturation, while no alteration was to be noticed in the case of the unmanured specimens. 2. Treatment with dilute hydrochloric acid prior to dispersion had no appreciable effect on the estimates of mechanical composition obtained in the different cases. Loss in solution was also comparatively small. 3. The silica-sesquioxide ratio increased slightly as the result of decomposition of green manure in swamp soil. The composition of the fine fractions was also altered, the total percentages of the oxides of iron, aluminium and silicon increasing from 90·5 to 99·3 in the course of 71 days. 4. The practical significance of the above and related observations has been discussed.