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Endosperm culture: a novel method for triploid plant production

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Abstract

Triploid nature of endosperm is the characteristic feature of angiosperms and is formed as a result of triple fusion. Present review discusses the morphogenic response and production of triploid plantlets by endosperm culture. Both mature and immature endosperm used for culture initiation responded differently in cultures. A key factor for the induction of cell divisions in mature endosperm cultures is the initial association of embryo but immature endosperms proliferate independent of embryo. In almost all the parasitic angiosperms, endosperm shows a tendency of direct differentiation of organs without prior callusing, whereas in autotrophic taxa the endosperm usually forms callus tissue followed by differentiation of shoot buds, roots or embryos. The endosperm tissue often shows a high degree of chromosomal variations and polyploidy. Mitotic irregularities, chromosome bridges and laggards are the other important characteristics of endosperm tissues. Triploids are usually seed sterile and is undesirable for plants where seeds are commercially useful. However, in cases where seedlessness is employed to improve the quality of fruits as in banana, apple, citrus, grapes, papaya etc. the induction of triploid plants would be of immense use. Triploid plants have more vigorous vegetative growth than their diploid counterparts. Hence, in plants where the vegetative parts are economically useful, triploids are of good use. This review focuses on the progress achieved so far in endosperm culture to obtain triploid plants.

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Abbreviations

BA:

N6-Benzyladenine

CH:

Casein hydrolysate

CM:

Coconut milk

CE:

Corn extract

CWM:

Cow’s milk

DAP:

Days after pollination

2, 4-D:

2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid

GA3 :

Gibberellic acid

GJ:

Grape juice

IBA:

Indole-3-butyric acid

IAA:

Indole-3-acetic acid

Kn:

6-furfurylamino purine (kinetin)

MS:

Murashige and Skoog medium

MT:

Murashige and Tucker medium

NAA:

α-Naphthalene acetic acid

PE:

Potato extract

TDZ:

Thidiazuron

TJ:

Tomato juice

YE:

Yeast extract

WM:

White’s medium

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  1. Thuruthiyil Dennis Thomas

    Present address: Biozentrum Klein Flottbek, Entwicklungsbiologie und Biotechnologie, Universität Hamburg, Ohnhorststrasse 18, 22609, Hamburg, Germany

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  1. Post Graduate and Research Department of Botany, St. Thomas College, Arunapuram (P.O), Pala, Kottayam, Kerala, 686574, India

    Thuruthiyil Dennis Thomas

  2. Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, 781039, India

    Rakhi Chaturvedi

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Thomas, T.D., Chaturvedi, R. Endosperm culture: a novel method for triploid plant production. Plant Cell Tiss Organ Cult 93, 1–14 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-008-9336-6

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