Authors: Panaia, M.; Senaratna, T.; Dixon, K.; Sivasithamparam, K.

Source: In Vitro Cellular and Development Biology - Plant, Volume 40, Number 3, May 2004 , pp. 303-310(8)

Publisher: Springer

Abstract:

Baloskion tetraphyllum is a member of the Restionaceae and is an important species for the rehabilitation of disused mine sites and wetland areas, and is also highly prized as a cut flower. Its use for restoration of disturbed land is, however, severely limited, due to very poor propagation success by conventional methods. A study was conducted to evaluate the potential of somatic embryogenesis for the large-scale propagation of this species. A variety of auxins (at different concentrations) were investigated for their efficacy in stimulating somatic embryogenesis. Somatic embryos were successfully induced from excised coleoptiles of B. tetraphyllum on half-strength Murashige and Skoog (1/2MS) medium supplemented with 1 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic (2,4-D). To scale up the production, proliferation of secondary somatic embryos was achieved using primary somatic embryos as the tissue source, on 1/2MS+1 μM 2,4-D resulting in a 30-fold increase in somatic embryo, numbers. Almost all the somatic embryos developed into plants and were established ex vitro. The other auxins investigated, including p-chlorophenoxyacetic acid, indole-3-acetic acid, α-naphthaleneacetic acid, and picloram, were not as effective as 2,4-D. The age, of the explant material significantly influenced somatic embryogenesis with white, young coleoptiles (5-7 d) producing 50% more somatic embryos than green, more mature (8-14 d) coleoptiles. The protocol developed for B. tetraphyllum has the potential to be commercially viable, with an estimated 22 000 somatic embryos produced from 1 g of plant material. This research may also have a positive impact on the propagation of other important Restionaceae species.

Keywords: auxins; coleoptiles; conversion; secondary somatic embryogenesis

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/IVP2004534

Affiliations: 1: Email: mpanaia@bgpa.wa.gov.au

Publication date: 2004-05-01

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