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Optimizing the micropropagation protocol for the endangered Aloe polyphylla: can meta-topolin and its derivatives serve as replacement for benzyladenine and zeatin?

Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture volume 90, pages 15–23 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Benzyladenine (BA) is the most widely used cytokinin in the micropropagation industry due to its effectiveness and affordability. It, however, has disadvantages such as genetic alteration and abnormal growth in some plants. Naturally occurring zeatin on the other hand is not as widely used as BA and is far more expensive. The use of meta-topolin and its derivatives as alternatives to BA and zeatin, both of which frequently have negative effects in tissue culture was investigated. In vitro grown Aloe polyphylla (an endangered medicinal and ornamental aloe) were cultured on full strength Murashige and Skoog basal medium with different concentrations of cytokinins and solidified with 1% Bacteriological Agar (Oxoid No. 1). mT was the preferred cytokinin both in terms of multiplication rate and rooting. The optimum concentration that induced regeneration and rooting is 5.0 μM. The problem of hyperhydricity was totally controlled. Plants rooted spontaneously in multiplication medium, thus avoiding the extra rooting step of the protocol. More than 91% of the plants transferred to ex vitro conditions were successfully acclimatized.

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Abbreviations

[9G]BA:

[6-benzylamino-9- β-d-glucopyranosylpurine]

BA:

[6-benzylaminopurine]

IBA:

indole butyric acid

MS:

Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium

MemT:

[6-(3-methoxybenzylamino)purine]

MemTR:

[6-(3-methoxybenzylamino)-9-β-d-ribofuranosylpurine]

mT:

[6-(3-hydroxybenzylamino)purine]

mTR:

[6-(3-hydroxybenzylamino)-9-β-d-ribofuranosylpurine]

oT:

[6-(2-hydroxybenzylamino)purine]

PGR:

plant growth regulators

pT:

[6-(4-hydroxybenzylamino)purine]

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Acknowledgement

We acknowledge the financial support of the National Research Foundation (NRF), Pretoria. This work was also supported by the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic (GA 522/06/0108).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa

    Michael W. Bairu, Wendy A. Stirk & Johannes Van Staden

  2. Laboratory of Growth Regulators, Palacky University and Institute of Experimental Botany AS CR, 783 71, Olomouc-Holice, Czech Republic

    Karel Dolezal

Authors
  1. Michael W. Bairu
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  2. Wendy A. Stirk
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  3. Karel Dolezal
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  4. Johannes Van Staden
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Correspondence to Johannes Van Staden.

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Bairu, M.W., Stirk, W.A., Dolezal, K. et al. Optimizing the micropropagation protocol for the endangered Aloe polyphylla: can meta-topolin and its derivatives serve as replacement for benzyladenine and zeatin?. Plant Cell Tiss Organ Cult 90, 15–23 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-007-9233-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-007-9233-4

Keywords

  • Aromatic cytokinins
  • Conservation
  • Hyperhydricity
  • Metabolites
  • Multiplication rate
  • Plant growth regulators
  • Root and shoot growth