Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Induction of desiccation tolerance in microspore-derived embryos ofBrassica napus

  • Developmental Biology/Morphogenesis
  • Published:
In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

A method was developed to induce desiccation tolerance in microspore-derived embryos ofBrassica napus. Treatment of 14- to 20-day-old embryos with 1×10−4 M abscisic acid, in the light, induced tolerance to slow desiccation over a 6-day period. Under these conditions 88 to 100% of embryos of the five cultivars tested survived (as measured by moisture uptake, greening, and growth of the shoot and root meristem) after storage for 1 wk at tissue water content levels of less than 20%. The response was found to be dependent on the abscisic acid concentration in the culture medium and time of exposure of the embryos to the abscisic acid-containing medium, with exposure times of as little as 1 day having a beneficial effect. Exposure times to abscisic acid (ABA) of 5–7 days resulted in the highest survival rates. Embryo age and size at the time of ABA exposure also affected the subsequent survival and development of embryos, with older and larger embryos exhibiting the best responses.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anandarajah, K.; Kott, L.; Beversdorf, W. D., et al. Induction of desiccation tolerance in microspore-derived embryos ofBrassica napus L. by thermal stress. Plant Sci. 77(1):119–124; 1991.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bartels, D.; Singh, M.; Salamini, F. Onset of desiccation tolerance during development of the barley embryo. Planta 175(4):485–492; 1988.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bochicchio, A.; Vazzana, C.; Raschi, A., et al. Effect of desiccation in isolated embryos of maize during onset of desiccation tolerance during development. Agronomie 8(1):29–36; 1988.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cenkowski, S.; Sokhansanj, S.; Sosulski, F. W. The effect of drying temperature on green color and chlorophyll content of canola seed. Can. Inst. Food Sci. Technol. J. 22:383–386; 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  • Compton, M. E.; Benton, C. M.; Gray, D. J., et al. Plant recovery from maize somatic embryos subjected to controlled relative humidity dehydration. In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol. 28P:197–201; 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drew, R. K. L. The development of carrot (Daucus carota L.) embryos (derived from cell suspension culture) into plantlets on a sugar free medium. Hortic. Res. 19:79–84; 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gamborg, O. L.; Miller, R. A.; Ojima, K. Nutrient requirements of suspension cultures of soybean root cells. Exp. Cell Res. 50:151–158; 1968.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gray, D. J.; Conger, B. V.; Songstad, D. D. Desiccated quiescent somatic embryos of orchardgrass for use as synthetic seeds. In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol. 23:29–33; 1987.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herter, U.; Burris, J. S. Preconditioning reduces the susceptibility to drying injury in corn seed. Can. J. Plant Sci. 69(3):775–790; 1989.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, B.; Keller, W. A. Microspore culture technology. J. Tissue Cult. Methods 12:171–178; 1989.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Janick, J.; Kitto, S. L.; Dim, V. H. Production of synthetic seed by desiccation and encapsulation. In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol. 25:1167–1172; 1989.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaimori, N.; Takahashi, N. Plant regeneration from dried callus of carrot (Daucus carota L.). Jpn. J. Breed. 39:379–382; 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kermode, A. R.; Dumbroff, E. B.; Bewley, J. D. The role of maturation drying in the transition from seed development to germination VII. Effects of partial and complete desiccation on abscisic acid levels and sensitivity inRicinus communis L. seeds. J. Exp. Bot. 40:303–314; 1989.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kermode, A. R.; Bewley, J. D. The role of maturation drying in the transition from seed development to germination V. Responses of the immature castor bean embryos to isolation from the whole seed a comparison with premature desiccation. J. Exp. Bot. 39:487–498; 1988.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kermode, A. R.; Pramanik, S. K.; Bewley, J. D. The role of maturation drying in the transition from seed development to germination VI. Desiccation-induced changes in messenger RNA populations within the endosperm ofRicinus communis 1 seeds. J. Exp. Bot. 40:33–42; 1989.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, Y-H.; Janick, J. ABA and polyox-encapsulation or high humidity increases survival of desiccated somatic embryos of celery. HortSci. 24:674–676; 1989.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, Y-H.; Janick, J. Abscisic acid and proline improve desiccation tolerance and increase fatty acid content of celery somatic embryos. Plant Cell Tissue Organ Cult. 24:83–89; 1991.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Koster, K. L.; Leopold, A. C. Sugars and desiccation tolerance in seeds. Plant Physiol. 88:829–832; 1988.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kott, L. S.; Beversdorf, W. D. Enhanced plant regulation from microspore-derived embryos ofBrassica napus by chilling partial desiccation and age selection. Plant Cell Tissue Organ Cult. 23:187–192; 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  • McKersie, B. D.; Senaratna, T.; Bowley, S. R., et al. Application of artificial seed technology in the production of hybrid alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol. 25:1183–1188; 1989.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morris, P. C.; Kumar, A.; Bowles, D. J., et al. Osmotic stress and abscisic acid induce expression of the wheat EM genes. Eur. J. Biochem. 190:625–630; 1990.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murashige, T. The impact of plant tissue culture on agriculture. In: Thorpe, T. A., ed. Frontiers of plant tissue culture 1978. Calgary, Alberta: University of Calgary; 1978;15–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Park, H. B.; Kim, Y. H.; Whipkey, A., et al. Proline and ABA increase survival of desiccated somatic embryos of celery. Hortscience 23:754; 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pechan, P. M.; Bartels, D.; Brown, D. C. W., et al. mRNA and protein changes associated with induction ofBrassica microspore embryogenesis. Physiol. Plant 184:161–165; 1991.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Redenbaugh, K.; Slade, D.; Viss, P., et al. Encapsulation of somatic embryos in synthetic seed coats. Hort. Sci. 22:803–809; 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  • Redenbaugh, K.; Fujii, J.; Slade, D., et al. Artificial seeds—encapsulated somatic embryos. In: Bajaj, Y. P. S., ed. Biotechnology in agriculture and forestry, vol. 17. Berlin: Springer-Verlag; 1991;395–415.

    Google Scholar 

  • Senaratna, T.; McKersie, B. D.; Bowley, S. R. Desiccation tolerance of alfalfaMedicago sativa L. somatic embryos influence of abscisic acid stress pretreatment and drying rates. Plant Sci. 65:253–260; 1989.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Senaratna, T.; McKersie, B. D.; Bowley, S. R. Artificial seeds of alfalfaMedicago sativa L. induction of desiccation tolerance in somatic embryos. In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol. 26:85–90; 1990.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Senaratna, T.; Kott, L.; Beversdorf, W. D., et al. Desiccation of microspore derived embryos of oilseed rape Brassica napus L. Plant Cell Rep. 10:342–344; 1991.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shimonishi, K.; Ishikawa, M.; Suzuki, S., et al. Cryopreservation of melon somatic embryos by desiccation method. Jpn. J. Breed. 41:347–352; 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Takahata, Y.; Brown, D. C. W.; Keller, W. A., et al. Dessication tolerance in broccoli (Brassica oleracea L.) microspore-derived embryos. Jpn. J. Breed. 40:92–93; 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weast, R. C., editor. Handbook of chemistry and physics, 57th ed. Cleveland, OH: CRC Press; 1977;E-46.

  • Williamson, J. D.; Quatrano, R. S.; Cuming, A. C. Em polypeptide and its message RNA levels are modulated by abscisic acid during embryogenesis in wheat. Eur. J. Biochem. 152:501–507; 1985.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Winston, P. W.; Bates, D. H. Saturated solutions for the control of humidity in biological research. Ecology 41:232–237; 1960.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. P. M. Pechan

    Present address: Max-Planck-Institut fur Biochemie, 8033 Martinsried, Munchen, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Biotechnology Program, Plant Research Centre, Agriculture Canada, K1A 0C6, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

    D. C. W. Brown, E. M. Watson & P. M. Pechan

  2. Crop Science Department, University of Guelph, N1G 2W1, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

    P. M. Pechan

Authors
  1. D. C. W. Brown
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E. M. Watson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. M. Pechan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Brown, D.C.W., Watson, E.M. & Pechan, P.M. Induction of desiccation tolerance in microspore-derived embryos ofBrassica napus . In Vitro Cell Dev Biol - Plant 29, 113–118 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02632281

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02632281

Key words

Search

Navigation