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Physiological effects of a novel aromatic cytokinin analogue in micropropagated Aloe arborescens and Harpagophytum procumbens

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Abstract

Globally, there is a continuous effort geared toward improving micropropagation protocols with much emphasis on the type of cytokinins (CKs). We investigated the effect of meta-topolin tetrahydropyran-2-yl [mTTHP—a novel derivative of the aromatic cytokinin meta-topolin (mT)] on shoot proliferation, photosynthetic pigment content, phytochemicals and antioxidant activity of two widely used medicinal plants, Aloe arborescens and Harpagophytum procumbens. In terms of shoot proliferation, besides mTTHP and mT (at equimolar level) showing comparable effects, both topolins were significantly better than the control and benzyladenine riboside (BAR) in micropropagated A. arborescens. In H. procumbens, mT-treated cultures were the most responsive treatment at 2.5 μM when compared to the control. At 5.0 μM concentration, mTTHP and meta-topolin riboside (mTR) demonstrated a comparable effect on shoot proliferation. To a certain extent (particularly at low concentrations), mTTHP had a better rooting stimulatory effect when compared to the other CKs in both investigated species. In micropropagated A. arborescens, 2.5 μM mTTHP showed the best antioxidant activity (ferric reducing power) which was significantly higher than the control and all BAR-treated plants. Although 2.5 μM mTTHP exhibited a significant antioxidant activity (in β-carotene based assay) when compared to mTR at equimolar level in H. procumbens, it was not significantly different from the treatment with 2.5 μM mT and the control. As evidenced in the current study, the efficacy of the novel cytokinin may be species-specific and beneficial for few physiological parameters. It is conceivable that mTTHP is another viable alternative topolin with the extra advantage of inducing rooting at a low concentration.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

BA:

N6-Benzyladenine

BAR:

Benzyladenine riboside

BHT:

Butylated hydroxytoluene

CE:

Catechin equivalents

CKs:

Cytokinins

CKX:

Cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase

DPPH:

2,2-Diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl

DW:

Dry weight

GAE:

Gallic acid equivalents

HE:

Harpagoside equivalents

IBA:

Indole butyric acid

MemTTHP:

meta-Methoxytopolin 9-tetrahydropyran-2-yl or 6-(3-methoxybenzylamino-9-tetrahydropyran-2ylpurine

MS:

Murashige and Skoog

mT:

meta-Topolin

mTR:

meta-Topolin riboside

mTTHP:

meta-Topolin tetrahydropyran-2-yl or 6-(3-hydroxybenzylamino)-9-tetrahydropyran-2ylpurine

PGR:

Plant growth regulator

PGRs:

Plant growth regulators

PTC:

Plant tissue culture

THP:

Tetrahydropyranyl

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Acknowledgments

The Claude Leon Foundation (SOA and AOA) and University of KwaZulu-Natal (MM), South Africa are thanked for the award of postdoctoral fellowships. This work was also supported by the Czech Ministry of Education Youth and Sports (Grant Number OP RD&I ED0007/01/01 Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research) and by the Operational Program Education for Competitiveness—European Social Fund (project CZ.1.07/2.3.00/20.0165). Financial support from the NRF/China Collaborative Programme is greatly appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    Stephen O. Amoo, Adeyemi O. Aremu, Mack Moyo & Johannes Van Staden

  2. Laboratory of Growth Regulators, Palackỳ University and Institute of Experimental Botany AS CR, Šlechtitelů 11, 783 71, Olomouc, Czech Republic

    Lucie Szüčová & Karel Doležal

  3. Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Faculty of Science, Palackỳ University, Šlechtitelů 11, 783 71, Olomouc, Czech Republic

    Lucie Szüčová & Karel Doležal

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  1. Stephen O. Amoo
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  2. Adeyemi O. Aremu
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  3. Mack Moyo
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  4. Lucie Szüčová
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  5. Karel Doležal
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  6. Johannes Van Staden
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Correspondence to Johannes Van Staden.

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Amoo, S.O., Aremu, A.O., Moyo, M. et al. Physiological effects of a novel aromatic cytokinin analogue in micropropagated Aloe arborescens and Harpagophytum procumbens . Plant Cell Tiss Organ Cult 116, 17–26 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-013-0377-0

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