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Cultural conditions affect somatic embryogenesis in Catharanthus roseus L. (G.) Don

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Abstract

We established an efficient plant regeneration system for Catharanthus roseus L. (G.) Don through somatic embryogenesis. Embryogenic callus was induced from hypocotyl of seed germinated in vitro. Somatic embryogenesis in Catharanthus has been categorized into three distinct stages: (1) initiation and proliferation of embryo; (2) maturation, and; (3) germination or plantlet conversion. Beside plant growth regulators, various stages of embryogenesis were screened for their response to a wide variety of factors (pH, gelrite, light, sugar alcohols, polyethyleneglycol and amino acids), which affect embryogenesis. All of the tested factors had a small to marked influence on embryogeny and eventual conversion to plantlets. The plantlets were acclimatized successfully in a greenhouse. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing a detailed study of various cultural factors which regulate embryogenesis in C. roseus. The results discussed in this paper may be used in mass propagation to produce medicinal raw material, and the embryo precursor cells could be used in genetic modification programmes that aim to improve the alkaloid yield as well.

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Abbreviations

BA:

N 6-benzyladenine

2,4-D:

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid

NAA:

α-Naphthalene acetic acid

GA3 :

Gibberellic acid

PEG:

Polyethylene glycol

MS:

Murashige and Skoog’s medium

SE:

Somatic embryo

DMRT:

Duncan’s multiple range test

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Acknowledgments

The AFMI Fellowship provided by AFMI to one of us (Dr. A. Junaid) is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cellular Differentiation and Molecular Genetics Section, Department of Botany, Hamdard University, New Delhi, 110 062, India

    Junaid Aslam, A. Mujib, Samar Fatima & M. P. Sharma

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  1. Junaid Aslam
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  2. A. Mujib
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  3. Samar Fatima
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  4. M. P. Sharma
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Correspondence to A. Mujib.

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Aslam, J., Mujib, A., Fatima, S. et al. Cultural conditions affect somatic embryogenesis in Catharanthus roseus L. (G.) Don. Plant Biotechnol Rep 2, 179–189 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11816-008-0060-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11816-008-0060-9

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