In vitro culture of lemon juice vesicles

Abstract

This study explores the possibility of culturing Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f. cv. ‘Eureka’ (lemon) juice vesicles as isolated intact tissues capable of retaining their unique growth structure in vitro. Isolated juice vesicles either attached to or detached from the endocarp/mesocarp (albedo) tissue of origin were grown on various nutrient media using several physical environments. Various growth responses achieved in vitro from cultured vesicles are described. Intact vesicles attached to endocarp/mesocarp tissue were found to grow up to 6 months in culture as a distinct tissue with a minimum of adverse callus proliferation. Callus formation from some cultured explants occurred on all media and physical environments tested. Callus production eventually obliterated and irreversibly altered the normal development of juice vesicles. Inherent vesicle physiology rather than the tissue culture environment was the major determining factor affecting culture growth. Reducing the concentration of carbohydrates (fructose, glucose or sucrose) added to media from 3 to 0.01% or 0.0% reduced, but still did not totally prevent, callus production. Treatment of vesicles with 1000 mg/l ascorbic acid or citric acid, or 0.1 mg/l indole-3-acetic acid or abscisic acid enhanced the occurrence of normal appearing vesicles.