Effects of Genotypes and Basic Medium on Culture of Maize Mature Embryos

[Objective]This study was to screen out suitable genotypes and basic medium for the culture of maize mature embryos.[Method]Using mature embryos of nine maize genotypes as explants,the effects of genotypes and basic medium on callus induction and subculture were investigated.[Result]The genotypes performed better in callus induction and subculture were found in turn 853-35,853-209,Dan 34 and 81162.MS medium is better than N6 medium in the callus induction from maize embryos,while N6 medium is more suitable for callus subculture.[Conclusion]Our study further improved the tissue culture system in maize with mature embryos as explants.

Callus Induction from Mature Embryos of Maize

In this study we studied the factors influencing the callus induction from mature embryos of maize inbred lines Qi 319, Zhen 58, Chang 7 -2, Lx 9801 and 81162, such as genotype, combination of plant growth regulators, and low-temperature pretreatment. The results showed that the induction rate of Qi 319 was the highest among the four genotypes tested; combination of 4.0 mg/L 2,4-D ＋ 0.5 mg/L 6-BA was suitable for inducing callus from mature embryos; three days of 4℃ pretreatment can promote the callus induction significantly. The indices optimized in the present study are helpful for establishing genetic transformation system in maize without considering seasonal variation.

Study on Plant Regeneration of Wheat Mature Embryos Under Endosperm-Supported Culture

To reveal the suitability of using mature embryos as an explant source in wheat tissue culture, mature embryos from eight common wheat cultivars （Triticum aestivum L. cv.） were cultured with or without endosperm to test their efficiency of callus induction and plant regeneration. When embryos were cultured together with endosperm （endosperm-supported culture, ES）, the percentage of callus induction was significantly lower than that when embryos were cultured in the absence of endosperm （non-endosperm-supported culture, NES）. This pattern was evident in most genotypes, regardless of whether 2 or 8 mg L^-1 2,4-D was added in the NES culture. However, in ES culture, more induced calli were differentiated into distinct green spots and they further developed into plantlets. Thus, more plants were regenerated in ES culture than in the NES treatment. Most of the eight tested genotypes showed a significant difference in callus induction rate and plantlet regeneration in both ES and NES cultures. In addition, the enzymatic activity of oxalate oxidase in the callus of ES culture condition was obviously higher than that in the callus of NES culture condition, suggesting that the activity of oxalate oxidase may be a parameter for selection of calli with potential for plantlet regeneration. These results indicate that wheat mature embryos are valuable explants for highly efficient callus induction and plant regeneration, if proper treatment and medium are used.

Establishment and Optimization of the Regeneration System of Mature Embryos of Maize (Zea mays L.)

A reliable system was developed for regeneration from mature embryos derived from callus of four maize inbred lines （Liao 7980, Dan 9818, Dan 340, and Dan 5026）. The protocol was mainly based on a series of experiments involving the composition of culture medium. We found that 9 pM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in MS medium was optimum for the induction of callus. The induction frequency of primary calli was over 85% for four inbred lines tested. The addition of L- proline （12 mM） in subculture medium significantly promoted the formation of embryogenic callus but it did not significantly enhance growth rate of callus. Efficient shoot regeneration was obtained on regeneration medium containing 2.22 μM 6- benzylaminopurine in combinations with 4.64 μM Kinetin. Regenerated shoots were rooted on half-strength MS medium containing 2.85 μM indole-3-butyric acid. This plant regeneration system provides a foundation for genetic transformation of maize.

A New Micropropagation Technology of Tilia amurensis:In VitroMicropropagation of Mature Zygotic Embryos and the Establishment of a PlantRegeneration System

Tilia amurensis is an economically valuable broadleaf tree species in Northeast China.The production of highqualityT.amurensis varieties at commercial scales has been greatly limited by the low germination rates.Thereis thus a pressing need to develop an organogenesis protocol for in vitro propagation of T.amurensis to alleviate ashortage of high-quality T.amurensis seedlings.Here,we established a rapid in vitro propagation system forT.amurensis from mature zygotic embryos and analyzed the effects of plant growth regulators and culture mediain different stages.We found that Woody plant medium(WPM)was the optimal primary culture medium formature zygotic embryos.The highest callus induction percentage(68.76%)and number of axillary buds induced(3.2)were obtained in WPM+0.89μmol/L 6-benzyladenine(6-BA)+0.46μmol/L kinetin(KT)+0.25μmol/Lindole-3-butryic acid(IBA)+1.44μmol/L gibberellin A_(3)(GA_(3)).The multiple shoot bud development achievedthe highest percentage(83.32%)in the Murashige and Skoog(MS)+2.22μmol/L 6-BA+0.25μmol/L IBA+1.44μmol/L GA_(3).The rooting percentage(96.70%)was highest in 1/2 MS medium+1.48μmol/L IBA.Thesurvival percentage of transplanting plantlets was 82.22%in soil:vermiculite:perlite(5:3:1).Our study is the firstto establish an effective organogenesis protocol for T.amurensis using mature zygotic embryos.

Genotypic differences in callus induction and plant regeneration from mature embryos of barley(Hordeum vulgare L.)

An efficient induction system and regeneration protocol based on mature barley embryos were developed.Embryos isolated from mature seeds,dehusked by hand and inoculated with longitudinally bisected sections,showed low contamination and high primary callus-forming capability.The influences of nine culture media on primary callus induction and germination from the mature embryos of barley cultivars Golden Promise and Zaoshu 3 were analyzed.The results showed that the two cultivars had much higher values of primary callus induction in the B16M6D medium as compared to the other eight medium formulations,with a frequency of 74.3% and 78.4% for Golden Promise and Zaoshu 3,respectively.Furthermore,Zaoshu 3 demonstrated particularly high stability in callus induction over the different media,indicating its potential utilization in callus induction and regeneration for its good agronomic traits and wide adaption.There were significant differences amongst 11 barley genotypes in terms of primary callus induction in the optimum medium,with percentages of callus induction and germination response ranging from 17.9% to 78.4% and 2.8% to 47.4%,respectively.Green plantlets of Dong 17,Golden Promise,and Zaoshu 3 were successfully de-veloped from primary calli through embryogenesis,with green plant differentiation frequencies ranging from 9.7% to 21.0% across genotypes.

Plantlet regeneration from mature zygotic embryos andembryonic explants of masson pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb.)

Excised zygotic embryos, cotyledons and hypocotyls of juvenile seedlings of masson pine were grown on DCR medium supplemented with several concentrations of various plant phytohormones. BA (1.0 mg/ L) in combination with NAA (0.05 mg/L)in DCR medium was found to increase the formation of adventitious buds from mature zygotic embryos, but most of them were formed at the tips of embryonic cotyledons. Adventitious buds were obtained from cotyledons and hypocotyls from juvenile seedlings when they were cultured on DCR medium containing BA 3-5 mg/L and NAA 0.1-0.2 mg/L. Elongation of buds were observed on hormone-free DCR medium with or without activated charcoal (0.5%). Root initiation was achieved with full or half strength DCR inedium supplemented with IBA 1.0 mg/L and NAA 0.25-0.5 mg/L. Approximately 11-20 axillary buds formed on each explant when juvenile seedling explants were treated (3-20h) with BA 50-100 mg/L, followed by transfer to hormone-free DCR medium. The maximum number of shoots obtained per explant within six months was 33.

The Comparison in Tissue Culture Ability of Mature Embryo in Different Cultivars of Rice

In order to study the regeneration technology of mature embryos in different rice varieties,nine japonica,nine indica and eleven hybrid rice varieties of two line or three line or superiority combinations were selected as explants to study the callus induction,differentiation and regeneration rates on different media.The higher callus induction （61.7-89.2%） was observed in japonica rice,when cytokinin was added at lower concentration （0.3 mg L-1 6-BA） in M8 basal medium,supplemented with 30 g L-1 sucrose,8 g L-1 agar and 2 mg L-1 2,4-D.Further,the addition of two cytokinins （2 mg L-1 6-BA,0.5 mg L-1 KT） and 1 mg L-1 NAA in the M8 basal supplemented medium resulted in 9.1-100% of the callus induction in indica rice.The percent callus induction in hybrid rice varieties was 40-86.3% when addition of 1 mg L-1 6-BA and 1 mg L-1 KT was added,and the cytokinins was required by the japonica and indica rice varieties in the M8 basal supplemented medium.It was observed that when the 0.5 mg L-1 2,4-D and 1 mg L-1 6-BA were added in japonica rice,and 0.2 mg L-1 2,4-D and 0.5 mg L-1 6-BA were added in indica and hybrid rice in the MS different media,the regeneration rates were 9.2-59.5%,3.6-87.5% and 17.2-43.2% for japonica,indica and hybrid rice,respectively.Thus,the regeneration technology with higher output is established in the mature embryos of similar rice varieties.

Establishment of a Highly Efficient Regeneration System for the Mature Embryo Culture of Wheat

Establishment of a highly efficient regeneration system for the mature embryo of wheat will provide a convenient tool for wheat tissue culture and transformation, thereby facilitating the transformation of foreign genes into wheat. By using the mature embryos derived from 20 different wheat lines including Shi 4185, Yumai 66, Lunxuan 987, CB037, Yangmai 6, Xinchun 9, Bobwhite, Han 6172, Zheng 9023, Jimai 20, Ningchun 4, and Jing 411, the effects of some factors including inoculation methods, initiating culture media, organic additives, antioxidants, and auxins on the regeneration from the explants were evaluated. The results indicated that the scraping embryo culture was better than the whole embryo culture, the Aa medium was better than the SD2 medium and dicamba was better than 2,4-D in increasing the regeneration frequency. An Adi medium was established in this study by adding silver nitrate, cysteine, ascorbic acid, dicamba, glutamine into the Aa medium at the concentration of 4,40, 100, 2, and 5 mg L^-1, respectively. By using the Adi medium and the scraping technique, the regeneration frequencies of the mature embryos of CB037, Lunxuan 987, Hart 6172, Yangmai 6, Bobwhite, Zheng 9023, Shi 4 185, and Jimai 20 became 85.6, 60,1, 46.0, 42.1,42.0, 34.0, 33.0, and 32.0%, respectively, which were about 5-8 times higher than that obtained from the conventional culture mediums and techniques. This novel regeneration system could be helpful in wheat transformation.

Dicamba and Sugar Effects on Callus Induction and Plant Regeneration from Mature Embryo Culture of Wheat

To establish a highly efficient plant regeneration system for wheat genetic transformation, the effects of three different concentrations of dicamba and two different sugar types on callus induction and plant regeneration from mature embryo cultures were evaluated. Callus induction and plant regeneration were obtained from mature embryos of two commercial cultivars Zhoumai 18 and Yumai 34 （Triticum aestivum L.） cultured on L3 basal medium. The results showed that the efficiency of mature embryo culture was significantly influenced by the genotypes, sugar types and dicamba concentrations. 4 mg L^-1 dicamba proved the best effective for inducing embryogenic callus and also gave the highest proportion of plants regenerated across the two cultivars. Substitution of maltose by sucrose significantly improved the plant regeneration efficiency in both cultivars. There was a significant interaction between genotype-by-sugar types, and sugar types-bydicamba concentrations. Overall, Zhoumai 18 gave the highest frequency of plant regeneration （82.65%） when dicamba concentration was 4.0 mg L^-1 and with sucrose in initial callus induction. These results will facilitate genetic transformation work with elite wheat.

Effects of CuSO_4 and Uniconazole on Mature Embryo Culture in Japonica Rice

In order to establish the system of high frequency plant regeneration for japonica rice mature embryos, the effects of different concentrations of CuSO4 and uniconazole on in vitro culture of mature embryos were studied using three rice cultivars of Kongyu 131, Longjing 24, and Dongnong 425 as test materials. The results showed that callus induction and differentiation of japonica rice mature embryos were apparently improved on the medium with 10-15 μmol·L-1 CuSO4 and 0.50-1.00 mg·L-1 uniconazole. Induction and differentiation rates of different genotype rice mature embryos displayed different sensitivities to CuSO4 and uniconazole. For the callus induction frequency of three varieties, the optimal concentration of CuSO4 was 15.0 mol·L-1. When the concentration of CuSO4 was 15 μmol·L-1, the plantlet differentiation rates of Kongyu 131 and Dongnong 425 got to the highest, while the concentration of CuSO4 was 10 μmol·L-1 for Longjing 24. For the callus induction and plantlet differentiation rates of Kongyu 131 and Dongnong 425, the ideal concentration of uniconazole was 0.50 mg·L-1 and for Longjing 24 was 1.00 mg·L-1.

The Selection of Transgenic Recipients from New Elite Wheat Cultivars and Study on Its Plant Regeneration System

In the protocol of wheat transformation, to use elite wheat cultivars as exogenous gene recipients can speed up the process of commercial field applications of transgenic wheat. However, it is necessary to screen wheat cultivars with good tissue culture response （TCR） continuously from plenty of elite wheat cultivars released for wheat transformation, and it is also important to find a plant regeneration system that is suitable for these cultivars. So, the TCR of mature and immature embryos of six wheat cultivars Chuannong 11 （CN11）, Chuannong12 （CN12）, Chuannong17 （CN17）, Chuannong18 （CN18）, Chuannong19 （CN19）, and Chuannong21 （CN21）, which possess superior agronomic traits, were investigated by using a good TCR wheat cultivar Bobwhite as control. The results indicated that only the immature and mature embryos of CN12, CN17, and CN18 exhibited good TCR compared with Bobwhite. No significant differences were observed between embryos of Bobwhite and of the three cultivars in TCR. Mature embryo-derived calli of CN12 were used as explants for transformation by particle bombardment of SAMDC gene. Seven transformants were obtained and the efficiency was 2.3%. This research supplies three new elite recipient cultivars for wheat transformation. The wheat plant regeneration system used in this research is different from those successful ones reported previously and it could be a reference for other wheat genotypes. Furthermore, Bobwhite and the three wheat cultivars were proved to be 1RS/1BL translocation, by methods of A-PAGE, C- banding, and genomic in situ hybridization （GISH）. These results imply that probably there is some relationship between 1RS/1BL translocation and TCR of wheat embryos. So this research gives us a hint that we should pay more attention to the 1RS/1BL translocations when we screen the wheat cultivars with good TCR and also that the mechanism of the effect of 1RS/ 1BL translocation on TCR is worthy of being investigated.

Establishment of highly efficient plant regeneration of Paeonia ostii‘Fengdan’through optimization of callus,adventitious shoot,and rooting induction

Tree peony is a famous ornamental plant,while the low propagation rate is the main hurdles hindering the industry development.Till now,the highly efficient regeneration system for tree peony is not established.In this study,using Paeonia ostii’Fengdan’mature embryos,the effects of variations in inoculation method,initiating culture,adventitious shoot induction,rooting media,plant growth regulators(PGRs),and a nonconventional PGR(plant extracts)on regeneration from explants were evaluated.In embryo cultures,embryonic callus induction rate of 1/4 embryos was the highest among those of embryos with other three technical treatments(whole embryos,1/2 embryos,and pieces of embryos).The woody plant medium(WPM)containing 1.0 mg·L^(-1)6-BA,0.5 mg·L^(-1)GA3,30.0 g·L^(-1)sucrose,and 3.0 g·L^(-1)phytagel significantly improved shoot induction and multiplication.3.0 mg·L^(-1)plant extracts promoted hypocotyl germination,rooting,and root growth,in direct embryo culture,and a combination of 3.0 mg·L^(-1)plant extracts+2.0 mg·L^(-1)IBA+1.5 mg·L^(-1)IAA produced optimal rooting induction rate for multiple shoots in direct embryo culture and indirect somatic embryogenesis.For the three in vitro micropropagation methods,the highest shoot proliferation coefficient(5.4±0.2)was obtained with indirect somatic embryogenesis.Fortunately,the propagation ability of shoots remains high,even when culture propagation was continued for more than two years.Thus,a reliable system for plant regeneration from mature embryos derived from P.ostii’Fengdan’callus and two direct embryo culture systems have been established.The novel regeneration system could facilitate uniform seedling production.

Screening and verification of the factors influencing somatic embryo maturation of Larix olgensis

With embryogenic callus of Larix olgensisis, we investigated the effects of inositol, glutamine, casein hydrolysate, carbohydrate, abscisic acid and silver nitrate concentration on the maturation of the somatic embryo.Three dominant factors emerged, and we developed a response surface model based on the Box-Behnken design.We defined the optimal conditions for the maturation of somatic embryos. The contents of abscisic acid, silver nitrate, sucrose and casein hydrolysis significantly affected the amount of maturing embryos, but inositol, maltose and glutamine had no effect. By establishing a response surface model with multiple factors, we predicted that the optimal number of L. olgensis somatic embryos was 204 ± 4 gon basal medium, containing 18.28 mg Labscisic acid,5.46 mg Lsilver nitrate and 82.67 g Lsucrose. In the verification experiments, the addition of 20 mg Labscisic acid, 5 mg Lsilver nitrate and 80 g Lsucrose to BM yielded an average of 202.06 somatic embryos per gram. These results should guide large-scale breeding of L. olgensis.

Tie-1:A Potential Target for Anti-Angiogenesis Therapy

The tyrosine kinase system angiopoietin（Ang）/Tie interacts with vascular endothelial growth factor pathway and regulates vessel quiescence in adults as well as later steps of the angiogenic cascade related to vessel maturation. Since all Angs are able to bind to Tie-2 but none binds to Tie-1,the function of Tie-2 and its ligands have captured attention. However,emerging evidence indicates unique roles of the orphan receptor Tie-1 in angiogenesis under physiological and pathological conditions. It is required for maintaining vascular endothelial cell integrity and survival during murine embryo development and in adult and may be involved in modulating differentiation of hematopoietic cells in adult. Tie-1 exhibits poor tyrosine kinase activity and signals via forming heterodimers with Tie-2,inhibiting Tie-2 signaling mediated by Angs. This inhibition can be relieved by Tie-1 ectodomain cleavage mediated by tumor- and inflammatory-related factors,which causes destabilization of vessels and initiates vessel remodeling. Up-regulated Tie-1 expression has been found not only in some leukemia cells and tumor related endothelial cells but also in cytoplasm of carcinoma cells of a variety of human solid tumors,which is associated with tumor progression. In addition,it has pro-inflammatory functions in endothelial cells and is involved in some inflammatory diseases associated with angiogenesis. Recent research indicated that Tie-1 gene ablation exhibited significant effects on tumor blood- and lymph-angiogenesis and improved anti-Ang therapy,suggesting Tie-1 may be a potential target for tumor anti-angiogenesis treatment.

Efficient Plant Regeneration with Arabinogalactan-Proteins on Various Ploidy Levels of Cereals

To determine the most effective dose of arabinogalactan-protein （AGP） in regeneration medium, mature embryos of genotypes in three different ploidy levels （Triticum aestivum L. cv. Ikizce-96, Triticum durum Desf. cv. Mirzabey and Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Tokak） were used to establish an efficient plant regeneration system for cereals. Percentage of callus production, capacity of regeneration were calculated, and also culture effect, root, stem, and total plant length of regenerant plants were observed in six different regeneration media （MS control, MS＋2, 5, 7, 10, 12 mg L-1 AGP） in these three different genotypes. According to the results, the highest amount of callus production was found in Ikizce-96 as 93.75% using 5 mg L-1 dicamba and 1 mg L-1 kinetin in induction medium. However, the most improved callus was observed in diploid barley Tokak as 179.95 mg in weight and 6.18 mm in diameter, respectively. The highest regeneration capacity was observed in the dose of 5 mg L-1 AGP in MS of all the genotypes and hexaploid wheat Ikizce-96 gave the best results with the highest regeneration capacity and culture effects （94.86 and 92.5%） in the same dose of AGE These results indicated that effective dose of AGP in regeneration medium increase plant regeneration in calli derived from cereal mature embryos.

Establishment of an in vitro micropropagation protocol for Boscia senegalensis (Pers.) Lam.ex Poir.

This report describes in vitro micropropagation of Boscia senegalensis,so-called famine foods,that helped the people in Darfur and Kordofan,Sudan survive during the 1984-1985 famine.Four types of explants prepared from green mature zygotic embryos were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium augmented with 1-5 mg/L 6-benzyladenine (BA).The highest number of shoots per explant (14.3±0.9) was achieved on MS medium supplemented with 3 mg/L BA,while the highest shoot length [(3.5±0.4) cm] was obtained with 1 mg/L BA.The shoot cluster,when subcultured to its same medium,significantly increased the rate of shoot multiplication by the end of the third subculture.The maximum mean number of shoots per explant (86.5±3.6) was produced after three multiplication cycles on 3 mg/L BA-supplemented medium.In vitro induced shoots were excised and rooted on half strength MS medium fortified with 0.25 mg/L indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) to obtain complete plantlets.B.senegalensis-regenerated plantlets obtained in vitro for the first time,were hardened and 95% survived under greenhouse conditions.