Summary
We studied how light from different light sources influences germination and postgerminative growth of plants from somatic embryos and seeds of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst). Somatic embryos of three spruce genotypes and seeds were subjected to light from commercially available light sources: Philips TLD Blue 18W/18 (BL), Osram Fluora (FL), Philips Cool White TL 50W/33 (CW), Osram Warm White 18W/30 (WW), Philips Yellow 36W/16 (YE) and Philips TLD Red 36W/15 (RE), 18 h a day, with a photon flux (PAR) at 30 µmol m−2 s−1. After 6 wk the germination frequencies of the somatic embryo-derived plantlets were 50% under BL and 98% under RE. The corresponding mean root lengths were 6.7 and 15.4 mm. In somatic embryo-derived plantlets cultured under BL, FL, CW and WW, both roots and hypocotyls turned brown, presumably due to production of phenolic substances. Browning was less severe in somatic embryo-derived plantlets cultured under RE and YE. Under RE, the epicotyl elongated in 37% of the plantlets after 6 wk, compared with 70% under the other light sources. Seed germination and postgerminative seedling growth was modestly influenced by light from these light sources. RE and WW initially delayed germination as compared with BL, FL and CW, but after 2 wk, more than 90% of the seeds had germinated under all light sources. In conclusion, germination and postgerminative growth of somatic embryos of spruce is sensitive to differences in light quality, whereas seed germination and seedling growth is not.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ahmad, M.; Cashmore, A. R. HY4 gene of A. thaliana encodes a protein with characteristics of a blue-light photoreceptor. Nature (Lond) 366:162–166; 1993.
Ahmad, M.; Cashmore, A. R. The blue-light receptor cryptochrome 1 shows functional dependence on phytochrome A or phytochrome B in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant J. 11:421–427; 1997.
Ahmad, M.; Lin, C.; Cashmore, A. R. Mutations throughout an Arabidopsis blue-light photoreceptor impair blue-light-responsive anthocyanin accumulation and inhibition of hypocotyl elongation. Plant J. 8:653–658; 1995.
Cashmore, A. R. The cryptochrome family of photoreceptors. Plant Cell Env. 20:764–767; 1997.
Chalupa, V. Somatic embryogenesis and plantlet regeneration from cultured immature and mature embryos of Picea abies (L.) Karst. Commun. Inst. For. Cech. 14:57–63; 1985.
Deikman, J.; Hammer, P. E. Induction of anthocyanin accumulation by cytokinin in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Physiol. (Rockv) 108:47–57; 1995.
Ewald, D.; Suess, R. A system for repeatable formation of elongating adventitious buds in Norway spruce tissue cultures. Silvae Genet. 42:169–175; 1993.
Grossnickle, S. C.; Cyr, D.; Polonenko, D. R. Somatic embryogenesis tissue culture for the propagation of conifer seedlings: a technology comes of age. Tree Planters’ Notes 47:48–57; 1996.
Hakman, I.; von Arnold, S. Plantlet regeneration through somatic embryogenesis in Picea abies (Norway spruce). J. Plant Physiol. 121:149–158; 1985.
Jain, S. M.; Gupta, P. K.; Newton, R. J., ed. Somatic embryogenesis in woody plants. Vol. 3. Gymnosperms. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers; 1995.
Kretzschmar, U. Improvement of larch micropropagation by induced short shoot elongation in vitro. Silvae Genet. 42:163–169; 1993.
Krogstrup, P. Embryo-like structures from cotyledons and ripe embryos of Norway spruce (Picea abies). Can. J. For. Res. 16:664–668; 1986.
Krogstrup, P.; Eriksen, E. N.; Møller, J. D., et al. Somatic embryogenesis in sitka spruce (Picea sithcensis [Bong.] Carr.). Plant Cell Rep. 7:594–597; 1988.
Leinonen, K.; De Chantal, M. Regulation of Picea abies seed dormancy by red and far-red light at various moisture contents. Scand. J. For. Res. 13:43–49; 1998.
Li, X. J.; Burton, P. J.; Leadem, C. L. Interactive effects of light and stratification on the germination of some British Columbia conifers. Can. J. Bot. 72:1635–1646; 1994.
Littell, R. C.; Milliken, G. A.; Stroup, W. W., et al. SAS® system for mixed models. Cary, NC: SAS Institute Inc.; 1996; 633 p.
Morgan, D. C.; Smith, H. Linear relationship between phytochrome photoequilibrium and growth in plants under simulated natural radiation. Nature (Lond) 262:210–212; 1976.
Nyman, B. Effect of red and far-red irradiation on the germination process in seeds of Pinus sylvestris L. Nature (Lond) 191:1219–1220; 1961.
Nyman, B. Studies on the germination in seeds of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) with special reference to the light factor. Stud. For. Suec. 2:1–159; 1963.
Nørgaard, J. V.; Duran, V.; Johnsen, Ø., et al. Variations in cryotolerance of embryogenic Picea abies cell lines and the association to genetic, morphological, and physiological factors. Can. J. For. Res. 23:2560–2567; 1993.
Quammarudin, M.; Tillberg, E. Rapid effects of red light on the isopentenyladenosine content of Scots pine seeds. Plant. Physiol. 91:5–8; 1989.
Roberts, D. R.; Sutton, B. C. S.; Flinn, B. S. Synchronous and high frequency germination of interior spruce following partial drying at high relative humidity. Can. J. Bot. 68:1086–1090; 1990.
SAS. SAS user’s guide: statistics. Version 5. Cary, NC: SAS Institute Inc.; 1985.
Schnitzler, J.-P.; Jungblut, T. P.; Feicht, C., et al. UV-B induction of flavonoid biosynthesis in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings. Trees 11:162–168; 1997.
Sæbø, A.; Skjeseth, G.; Appelgren, M. Light quality of the in vitro stage affects the subsequent rooting and field performance of Betula pendula (Roth). Scand. J. For. Res. 10:155–160; 1995.
von Arnold, S.; Hakman, I. Plantlet regeneration in vitro via adventitious buds and somatic embryogenesis in Norway spruce. (Picea abies). In: Hanover, J. W.; Keatly, D. E., ed. Genetic manipulation of woody plants. New York: Plenum Press; 1988:199–215.
Zoglauer, K.; Pinker, I.; Hoffmann, B., et al. Influence of light and auxin on the adventitious rooting of shoot cultures of birch (Betula pendula Roth.) in vitro. In: Bleiss, W.; Göring, H., ed. Light and hormone interactions in plants. Colloquia Pflanzenphysiologie. Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin; 1985:122–125. (Abstracts)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kvaalen, H., Appelgren, M. Light quality influences germination, root growth and hypocotyl elongation in somatic embryos but not in seedlings of norway spruce. In Vitro Cell.Dev.Biol.-Plant 35, 437–441 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11627-999-0064-3
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11627-999-0064-3