Recent Articles

Abstract The three-line system of hybrid rice has been a widely adopted method used to develop high-yielding hybrid varieties. The system encompasses a cytoplasmic male sterile line (A line), a maintainer to the male sterile line (B line), and a fertility restorer line (R line). For the first time, the study validates a comparative assessment of an efficient anther culture technique utilizing F1 hybrids derived from crosses between (A × R) and (B × R) genotypes. In the above hybrid system, A × R leads to heterosis resulting in hybrid rice production while B × R crosses envisioned to develop superior maintainer or restorer lines. The ANOVA along with Duncan’s mean supported N6 medium fortified with 2.0 mg L−1 2,4-di-chlorophenoxyacetic acid and 0.5 mg L−1 6-benzylaminopurine resulted in maximum callusing on the 7th d with a callusing frequency of 47.63% for A × R (~ 475 anthers responded out of 1000 used) and 34.4% (~ 340 anthers […]

Abstract In our earlier experiment, we could successfully enrich the four bioactive indole alkaloids (IAs) to a certain limit, i.e. ~ 12-fold of echitamine and ~ 15-fold of acetylechitamine as well as ~ 4-fold of both picrinine and tubotaiwine in our lab through leaf-derived callus culture from wild Alstonia scholaris (L.) R.Br. The present study is an effort to achieve further enrichment of these targeted IAs through in vitro culture of normal roots from micropropagated plantlets and different systems like root-derived callus and suspension cultures. For this purpose, micropropagation protocols for this plant and the three culture systems were first standardized and established. Effect of various elicitors like yeast extract, chitosan, methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, KCl, NaCl, mannitol, polyethylene glycol, CuSO4, MnSO4, NiSO4, CdSO4, and Pb(NO3)2 with different concentrations and incubation periods were then evaluated to know their effect on the IA […]

Abstract The most effective method to combat desertification is planting artificial forests of Populus pruinosa. In the Zhetysu and Almaty regions, samples were gathered from natural stands, which P. pruinosa and P. diversifolia likely displaced. The morphological attributes of 27 samples were related to one species, but one sample was causing doubt. PCR analyses were performed using eight microsatellite markers. The genotyping results revealed that all of the 28 samples collected were of the same type of P. pruinosa. They can effectively be introduced into in vitro culture in winter when physiological dormancy has ended. Annual lignified cuttings 6 to 7 cm long with 1 to 2 buds from selected plus trees were sterilized from saprophytic microflora by bleach NaOCl (1:1) for 10 min and 0.1% HgCl2 solution for 5 min and placed on the medium. Both male and female plants were propagated in the medium that contained ½ Murashige and Skoog (MS), 0.1 mg L-1 BAP; […]

Abstract Natural plant metabolites, also known as secondary metabolites, are crucial for the survival and adaptation of plants in their environment. For modern society, these metabolites can be produced under uncontrolled or controlled environments. Alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenols, lignans, saponins, coumarins, and glucosinolates are among the most important natural products from plants. Proteases from pineapple cultures in temporary immersion bioreactors have been obtained. Additionally, the effects of sodium chloride, mannitol, and sodium azide on pineapple shoots propagated in temporary immersion bioreactors were recorded, with levels of chlorophylls, carotenoids, aldehydes, and phenolics measured. This short review summarizes the main results obtained.

Abstract Kaempferia parviflora Wall. ex Baker is a valuable crop with high medicinal potential that, unfortunately, suffers from low rhizome and phytochemical yield. Among the breeding techniques that could improve crop vitality, induction of polyploidy was proven to be one of the most successful approach. In this study, stable tetraploids of K. parviflora were developed and characterized for the first time. Pre-established multiple shoots (6-wk-old) were separated into single shoots and sliced at the meristematic region to obtain ample transverse thin cell layers (tTCLs), which were then immersed in colchicine solution of 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, and 0.5% for 6, 12, and 24 h in each concentration. The treated tTCLs were regenerated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium (added with 4.0 mg L−1 6-benzyladenine and 0.8 mg L−1 indole-3-acetic acid) for 12 wk. tTCLs treated with 0.4% colchicine for 12 and 24 h displayed larger shoot thickness (64%), leaf length […]

Abstract Heat stress limits wheat productivity, causing huge yield loss worldwide, especially during the post-anthesis stage. The gene TaTT1 is highly upregulated in wheat at the seedling and anthesis stages in the heat stress-tolerant (HD3086) wheat genotype as compared to the heat-sensitive genotype (HD2894). The gene TaTT1 was successfully transformed and overexpressed in prokaryotic systems and transgenic Nicotiana tabacum L. (tobacco) plants. Furthermore, in transgenic tobacco lines, the transgene TaTT1 was confirmed by performing PCR, dot blot, and Southern hybridization blot analysis. Out of 8 Southern positive lines, only 5 showed single copy insertion of TaTT1 transgene. The transgenic lines having a single copy of gene insertion were further studied at the T1 stage. Different biochemical assays (MDA, proline, chlorophyll content, RWC) and real-time PCR were performed after imposing heat stress on T1 transgenic tobacco lines. Transgenic tobacco lines could […]

Abstract Micropropagation is one of the most common applications of plant tissue culture. This technique enhances genetic improvement programs by producing plants of high genetic and phytosanitary quality. However, despite its advantages and benefits, the commercial scaling of this in vitro propagation technique has been limited due to the use of conventional in vitro culture systems on semi-solid media. As an alternative, using liquid media in temporary immersion systems represents a way to increase biological yield and achieve semi-automation during micropropagation. This article follows a systematic literature review approach and discusses the most important factors for the commercial scaling of micropropagation using temporary immersion systems, including time and immersion frequency, volume of culture medium, explant density per bioreactor, proliferation time, and number of subcultures. In plants, hormesis or hormetic effect is the stimulation of development at […]

Abstract Quercus dumosa Nutt., a scrub oak native to the coastal sage scrub and chaparral ecosystem of Southern California and Baja California, is endangered, and its remaining populations face many threats. Because technologies do not currently exist to bank Q. dumosa acorns, the species requires alternative strategies for ex situ conservation, such as tissue culture. During initial trials, nodal segment explants created from fresh growth harvested from native populations of mature trees showed necrosis within several days when placed on Woody Plant Medium with 30.0 g L−1 sucrose, 1.0 mg L−1 BAP, and 8.0 g L−1 agar. Explant survival increased steadily through protocol optimization experiments, and, eventually, stable culture lines derived from mature Q. dumosa trees were reliably established and grown. After disinfestation, explants were dried on autoclaved filter paper to remove excess water, sectioned into nodal segments, and then placed on a medium […]

Abstract Composting of biodegradable waste like leaf litter and kitchen waste is an eco-friendly and cost-effective method of management of such waste and producing good-quality compost. For the present study, three types of compost were prepared using different combinations of leaf litter (LL), kitchen waste (KW) and cattle dung (CD) to explore the potential of their aqueous extracts (2.5 to 25.0%) on seed germination and micropropagation in Withania coagulans. Compositions of feed mixtures for three types of compost are as follows: CT1 (Compost type-1): LL (25.0%), KW (50.0%) and CD (25.0%); CT2 (Compost type-2): LL (35.0%), KW (50.0%) and CD (15.0%); and CT3 (Compost type-3): LL (25.0%) and KW (75.0%). Analysis of their physico-chemical parameters revealed that electrical conductivity, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, total available phosphorus, total sodium and total potassium content increased in all types of composts when compared to their feed mixtures while pH, total […]

Abstract Hairy root culture (HRC) is a promising and versatile transformative technique, especially for the sustainable production of high-value secondary metabolites. It offers large and efficient applicability with significant advancements in plant biotechnology, industrial processes, and fundamental research. Therefore, the present study provides updated and quantified information on HRC and its applications through bibliometric analysis. Data was extracted on 23 March 2024 from the Scopus database. Using specific keywords, the database showed 2598 articles related to HRC from 1983 to 2024. Out of these, 2018 articles were subjected to bibliometric analysis. The analysis emphasized important journals, authors, countries, and organizations contributing to the HRC field. Along with co-citation network analysis of journals, and references, it also examined networks of collaboration between authors, countries, and organizations. Additionally, a keyword co-occurrence […]

Abstract Spiraea hypericifolia L. (Rosaceae) is an important plant having medicinal importance, and useful for growing on the forest-steppe due to soil strengthening property. However, its natural habitat has been affected due to human activities, and thus development of conservation strategies is needed, but for that correct identification of the species is a prerequisite. Thus, DNA barcoding using matK and rbcL was carried out for S. hypericifolia. The sequenced product size of matK and rbcL was 895 bp and 599 bp, respectively, and they were deposited to GenBank. For shoot regeneration, nodal explants were placed in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium fortified with 0.5 mg L−1 6-benzyladenine (BA) for bud break. Shoot multiplication was carried out on MS and Linsmaier and Skoog (LS) media containing 0.2 or 0.5 mg L−1 BA or thidiazuron (TDZ), with or without 0.01 mg L−1 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Optimal shoot number of 15.00 ± 2.71 with 0.78 ± 0.09 […]

Abstract Because of its unique flower shape, brilliant color, long flowering period, and high commercial value, Anthurium andraeanum Linden is one of the leading potted flowers. Polyploid germplasm resources have important utilization value in the study of genetic evolution of species and the breeding of new varieties. The A. andraeanum industry also needs newer polyploid varieties, which requires more polyploid parental materials. This study was envisaged to obtain high-quality new tetraploid germplasm of A. andraeanum also known as ‘Pink Champion.’ Specifically, the callus of A. andraeanum was treated with 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 g L−1 of colchicine for 2, 4, 6, and 8 h, respectively, and was then transferred to the culture medium of MS medium + 6-benzylaminopurine 2.0 mg L−1 + naphthylacetic acid 0.5 mg L−1. After 75 d being kept in the same culture vessel, the survival rate of callus and the number of regenerated plants were counted, and the regenerated […]

Abstract Raspberry species produce highly nutritious fruits that are used for fresh consumption and frozen and processed products, such as jellies, juices, jams, and desserts. Efforts have been made to improve raspberry yield and fruit quality using conventional breeding. However, the narrow genetic diversity in raspberry species limits the progress of raspberry breeding. In this study, in vitro leaf and petiole tissues of three raspberry cultivars, ‘Amethyst,’ ‘Joan J,’ and ‘Polana,’ were irradiated with gamma rays at 0, 25, 50, or 100 Gy for mutation induction. In vitro shoots were then regenerated from the gamma ray–irradiated tissues in woody plant medium (WPM) supplemented with 20.0 g·L−1 sucrose, 6.5 g·L−1 agar, 200.0 mg·L−1 polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and 1.0 µM thidiazuron (TDZ). Regenerated shoots were rooted in one-half MS medium containing 0.5 µM naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Rooted plants were first grown in the greenhouse […]

Abstract Hyptis suaveolens is a medicinal and aromatic species that exhibits insecticidal, fungicidal, bactericidal, and nematicidal activity. Its roots contain podophyllotoxin (PTOX), a lignan used by the pharmaceutical industry. Elicitors can stimulate the in vitro production of PTOX. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the use of biotic and abiotic elicitors in the production of PTOX in root culture. Roots of plantlets grown in vitro were excised, weighed, and inserted into Erlenmeyer flasks containing 50.0 mL of Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium and cultivated with different biotic elicitors: melatonin, serotonin, methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, and chitosan, and abiotic elicitor: light quality. After 42 d, the fresh and dry weight of the roots and the production of PTOX in the roots and medium were assessed. Cultivation under red LED light increased the accumulation of PTOX in the medium and the dry weight of the roots. However, the concentrations of […]

Abstract Recombinant protein expression in plant cells is a desired biotechnological process that involves introducing foreign genes into host cells and producing the corresponding proteins. Hairy roots, which are produced from the infection of plant tissues by a soil-borne bacterium, Rhizobium rhizogenes, are great hosts for this purpose. The hairy root system offers advantages such as ease of protein extraction, low production costs, no risk of human pathogens, and scalability in bioreactors. However, the challenges of this system include low and variable expression levels, transgene instability, and complex gene expression regulation. This review provides an overview of the status and prospects of hairy root technology for recombinant protein expression, with a focus on species such Nicotiana species, the most commonly used host plants. The review also discusses the main factors affecting hairy root transformation, recombinant protein expression, and recovery, as […]

Abstract Aechmea bracteata (Sw.) Griseb. is an important bromeliad and is considered for ex situ conservation. Epiphytism and Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) make this species resilient to ecological stresses. This study aimed to illustrate the periodic development of epiphytic structural traits in micropropagated plantlets of A. bracteata through in vitro, ex vitro, and in vivo transitions. Freshly collected seeds of A. bracteata were subjected to Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium augmented with 0.5 mg L−1 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) for in vitro germination (97.2% of seeds responded). The resulting shoots proliferated better (14.0 shoots with 8.2-cm length) on the combination of 0.25 mg L−1 BAP and 0.15 mg L−1 α-naphthaleneacetic acetic acid (NAA). The in vitro-raised shoots were rooted with 100% response (7.0 roots with 3.2-cm average length) when pulse treated with 75.0 mg L−1 NAA solution under ex vitro conditions. The acclimated plantlets were […]

Abstract Artanema sesamoides Benth, a member of the Linderniaceae family, is an uncultivated medicinal plant native to Southeast Asia. Renowned for its rich content of phenylpropanoid glycosides (PPGs), including acteoside, this plant holds significant pharmaceutical value due to its high antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and cell apoptosis regulation activities. Despite its pharmaceutical potential, the lower content of PPG in the plant makes the extraction difficult. This study is the first report on the production of PPGs from the in vitro cultures of A. sesamoides. Callus cultures were established from the leaves, nodes, and roots of the in vitro raised seedlings. Callus induction was successfully achieved on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with combinations of 6-benzyladenine (BA) and either naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) or indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) from all the explants. Among them, the combination of 4.0 mg L-1 BA and 0.1 mg L-1 […]

Abstract Elaeocarpus angustifolius Blume (Elaeocarpaceae), commonly known as Rudraksha, is a tree of significant religious and medicinal value in India, with approximately 29 species. Due to poor seed germination rates, developing an efficient in vitro propagation method is crucial for providing horticulturists with high-quality planting material. In this study, a micropropagation protocol was successfully standardized for E. angustifolius using nodal explants in Driver-Kuniyaki-Walnut (DKW) medium. The DKW medium supplemented with 2 mgL−1 kinetin yielded the highest shoot proliferation, with an average of 27.6 ± 0.7 shoots per explant and an average shoot length of 3.1 ± 0.3 cm. Furthermore, a half-strength DKW medium, in combination with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), achieved a 95% rooting frequency. Optimal rooting was observed with 2.5 mgL−1 IBA, resulting in an average of 5.4 ± 0.2 roots per shoot, and an average root length of […]

Abstract Non-heading Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris ssp. chinensis Makino), a member of the Cruciferous family, can achieve efficient germplasm resource innovation through the regeneration of microspores. In this study, 18 genotypes, including ‘I105’ and ‘I112,’ were cultured to investigate the impact of genotype on the regeneration of microspores in non-heading Chinese cabbage. Simultaneously, optimization of conditions, such as the low-temperature time of microspore’s donor plants and the addition of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), was conducted to obtain a substantial number of regenerated plants. By using flow cytometry for ploidy identification and conducting phenotype verification, a highly efficient system for regenerating microspores in non-heading Chinese cabbage was established.

Abstract Theophylline, a rare xanthine alkaloid, has recently gained more interest in molecular and synthetic biology research due to its high selectivity, strong affinity to its aptamer, cost-effectiveness, availability, and non-toxicity. Despite its non-toxic nature, it is however crucial to establish the threshold limit of its application across different organisms, along with the minimum amount necessary for biotechnological applications. In the current study, various theophylline application methods were investigated at the diverse developmental stages of the model plant Nicotiana tabacum L., exponential growth phases of the bacterium Escherichia coli, and microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The growth behavior showed that while both plants and bacteria absorbed theophylline, the microalgae demonstrated a higher tolerance, suggesting a probable inefficient uptake of the substance into the cells or metabolization of it within the cell. Accordingly, C. […]