Conventional methods of pear breeding, largely based on intra- and inter-specific hybridization, are difficult because pear is highly heterozygous, polygenic and has a long juvenile period. Genetic improvements of pear cultivars are possible through induction of mutations and gene transfer by genetic engineering. A general prerequisite for these approaches is to establish an efficient plant reg...

Arabidopsis ecotypes, Columbia (Col) and Landsberg erecta (Ler), differ in their capacity to regenerate shoots in culture, as do many other cultivars and varieties of the same plant species. Recombinant inbred (RI) lines derived from a cross of Col x Ler were scored for shoot regeneration, and the Arabidopsis genome was scanned using composite interval mapping for loci associated with shoot reg...

Context: It is necessary to focus on the importance of adopting micropropagation technique for mass propagation of the plantlets in commercial scale as well as conservation and distribution of germplasm. Objective: The present investigation has been designed with a view to establishing protocol of in vitro regeneration of medicinal plant species i,e., Vitex nigundo L (Verbenaceae). Materials an...

A rapid and efficient protocol for the large-scale propagation of an important woody medicinal plant, Cassia alata L., is described. Cotyledonary node (CN) obtained from 15 day-old aseptic seedling were used as an explant and their morphogenetic potential was tested on MS media with various concentrations (0.5–12.5 μM) of 6-benzyladenine (BA), Kinetin (Kn), and 2-isopentinyl adenine (2iP) alone...

The DNA methylase inhibitors, 5-azacytidine and 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine inhibited adventitious shoot induction in Petunia leaf cultures. Cytosine methylation status at CCGG sites in shoot- and callus-inducing culture treatments was analysed by coupled restriction enzyme digestion (HpaII or MspI) and random amplification. Two differentially methylated genomic DNA bands from the PCR products were ...

The use of in vitro potato shoot cultures for protoplast isolation is desirable for consistent protoplast qualities. Ethylene build-up in the culture vessels causes problems for leaf growth (e.g. decreasing leaf surface, dry weight and chlorophyll) in shoot culture. Fifty to one hundred μM Silver thiosulfate (STS) produced a larger leaf area as a source of plant material for protoplast isolatio...

We characterized the absorption and short-term translocation of cadmium (Cd) in rice (Oryza sativa 'Nipponbare') quantitatively using serial images observed with a positron-emitting tracer imaging system. We fed a positron-emitting 107Cd (half-life of 6.5 h) tracer to the hydroponic culture solution and noninvasively obtained serial images of Cd distribution in intact rice plants at the vegetat...

Corms and the above ground parts of the yellow meadow saffron (Colchicum luteum Baker) have been proposed for the isolation of colchicine and colchamine in our country. Corms are collected and stored in large quantities for the extraction which result in rapid depletion of the raw material sources. In order to investigate the effects of chitosan on germination and growth of corms of Colchicum l...

Plant regeneration can occur via in vitro tissue culture through somatic embryogenesis or de novo shoot organogenesis. Transformation of soybean (Glycine max) is difficult, hence optimization of the transformation system for soybean regeneration is required. This study investigated ENHANCER OF SHOOT REGENERATION 1 (GmESR1), a soybean transcription factor that targets regeneration-associated gen...

Dwarf hygro (Hygrophila polysperma) is an ornamental aquatic plant that changes its leaf colours to pinkish in high light. It is listed as a medicinal plant in medicinal plant lists of Indian states of West Bengal and Karnataka. It is also used as a screening tool for toxicities and a bioindicator to detect and control algae. The study reported in vitro adventitious shoot regeneration from leaf...