Thidiazuron-induced somatic embryogenesis and changes of antioxidant properties in tissue cultures of half-high blueberry plants

Citation

Ghosh, A., Igamberdiev, A.U., Debnath, S.C. (2018). Thidiazuron-induced somatic embryogenesis and changes of antioxidant properties in tissue cultures of half-high blueberry plants. Scientific Reports, [online] 8(1), http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-35233-6

Plain language summary

Micropropagation is a rapid and efficient method for year-round mass propagation of blueberries. Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is a process of plant production where roots and shoots are formed simultaneously in a micropropagation system. In this study, an efficient SE protocol was developed for the first time for four half-high blueberry cultivars using a plant growth regulator, thidiazuron. Plantlets developed from SE were removed from the nutrient medium, transferred onto a peat:perlite medium, and acclimatized in a greenhouse. A 100% survival rate was achieved. The concentrations of total phenolic and flavonoid content were higher in greenhouse-grown cutting-propagated donor mother plants than for SE plants for St. Cloud, Patriot, and Northblue, but not for Chippewa. In all four cultivars, there was an interaction effect between propagation method and the age of donor mother plants, with the 15-year-old donor plants having a higher level of antioxidant activity than the eight-week-old SE plants.

Abstract

An efficient protocol of somatic embryogenesis (SE) has been developed for the first time in four half-high blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L. × V. angustifolium Ait.) cultivars. Thidiazuron (TDZ), a plant growth regulator with potential activities for shoot regeneration and shoot proliferation, was found most effective for somatic embryo formation when added to a nutrient medium at high concentration (9 µM). Although TDZ was also best for embryo germination at low concentration (2.3 µM), it was followed by zeatin at 4.6 µM for the same. Plantlets developed from SE were removed from the nutrient medium and transferred on a peat: perlite medium where 100% survival rate was acquired following the acclimatization process in a greenhouse. The concentrations of total phenolic and flavonoid contents were higher in greenhouse-grown conventionally cutting-propagated donor mother plants than those of respective SE plants for ‘St. Cloud’, ‘Patriot’ and ‘Northblue’ but not for ‘Chippewa’. The effect of propagation method and/or the older age of donor mother plants were clearly visible exclusively as the 15-year-old donor plants showed higher level of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity than the eight-weeks-old SE plants in all four cultivars.

Publication date

2018-12-01

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