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Plant regeneration using immature zygotic embryos of Tribulus terrestris

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Abstract

The genus Tribulus is the source of a number of steroidal saponins and other bioactive compounds which are of medicinal and pharmaceutical importance and plant regeneration of Tribulus terrestris has been reported. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of immature zygotic embryos of Tribulus terrestris as an explant for plant regeneration. Embryos were cultured on MS medium supplemented with 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and thidiazuron (TDZ), alone or in combination and callus and shoot or embryo formation evaluated. With 2.5 mg/l NAA or 2,4-D, callus formation frequency was 100% but 57% with 2.5 mg/l TDZ. The combination of 2.5 mg/l TDZ and NAA or 2,4-D also elicited callus formation frequency of 100%. The callus formation frequency was lower with lower levels of these growth regulators. On a medium with 0.5 mg/l TDZ, 17.4% of the 2,4-D-derived callus (2.5 mg/l), developed embryo-like structures and this increased to 37.3 and 41.4% respectively, when TDZ was combined with 0.5 mg/l indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) or 2,4-D. Both shoot formation and embryo-like structures developed in cultures with 2.5 mg/l TDZ, alone or in combination with 0.5 mg/l IBA or 2,4-D. The optimum sucrose level for morphogenetic response of embryo-derived callus was between 5.0 and 7.5%. Embryo-like structures were also observed when the 2,4-D-derived callus was cultured in a liquid containing benzyladenine (BA) and IBA. Plants were regenerated from both embryo-like structures and shoot buds on solid MS medium containing 0.2 mg/l IBA and rooted plantlets were transferred to soil.

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Fig. 1

Abbreviations

NAA:

1-Naphthaleneacetic acid

2,4-D:

2,4 Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid

TDZ:

Thidiazuron

IBA:

Indolebutryic acid

MS:

Murashige and Skoog medium

B5:

Gamborg’s medium

BA:

Benzyladenine

PGR:

Plant growth regulator

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge the technical assistance of Keith Pahl, Prakash Venglat and Holly Kemp for their assistance in the preparation of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. NCR-Plant Biotechnology Institute, 110 Gymnasium Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7NOW9, Canada

    C. Don Palmer & W. A. Keller

  2. Genome Prairie, #101-11 Research Dr, Saskatoon, SK, S7N3R2, Canada

    W. A. Keller

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  1. C. Don Palmer
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  2. W. A. Keller
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Correspondence to C. Don Palmer.

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Palmer, C.D., Keller, W.A. Plant regeneration using immature zygotic embryos of Tribulus terrestris . Plant Cell Tiss Organ Cult 105, 121–127 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-010-9838-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-010-9838-x

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