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Influence of freezing and non-freezing temperature on somatic embryogenesis and vinblastine production in Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don.

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Abstract

Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don. (Apocynaceae) is an important dicotyledonous medicinal plant. It produces vinblastine and vincristine, two alkaloids that are being used against a variety of cancers. In the present study, the freezing (−196, 4, 15°C) and non-freezing (25°C) temperature was imposed on embryogenic cultures, and later in vitro embryogeny and vinblastine production in C. roseus was studied. Somatic embryo (SE) production was maximum at 15°C, but the SE maturation was high at 4°C. The SEs, grown at 25°C, showed highest germination and plantlet conversion. Quantitative estimation of vinblastine was carried out using high-performance liquid chromatography in various in vitro raised tissues (embryogenic callus), embryo stages (proliferated, matured and germinated embryos)], and SE-derived plantlets (leaf, shoot, root and whole plant) after various freezing- and non-freezing temperature treatments. Vinblastine synthesis was temperature dependent in C. roseus that has been discussed in this present article.

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Acknowledgments

The first author (Dr. Junaid Aslam) gratefully acknowledges the Head, Department of Botany, F/O Science, Hamdard University, New Delhi, INDIA, for providing the necessary facilities during the course of present investigation.

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Correspondence to A. Mujib.

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Communicated by S. Werbrouck.

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Aslam, J., Mujib, A. & Sharma, M.P. Influence of freezing and non-freezing temperature on somatic embryogenesis and vinblastine production in Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don.. Acta Physiol Plant 33, 473–480 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-010-0569-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-010-0569-8

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