Resource Library

Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) is a valuable therapeutic plant used in many Ayurvedic drugs marketed for health restoration. However, its commercial production faces challenges due to poor seed viability, low germination rates, and the absence of standardized propagation methods. Therefore, this investigation aimed to establish a fast and highly efficient method for direct shoot regeneration in W. somnifera by using the apical meristem perforation technique, which is a novel approach.

Zingiberaceae family, also known as the ginger family, comprises 53 genera and 1300 species. The members of this family are widely known for their ethnobotanical properties. Owing to their anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and cardioprotective properties, the rhizomes have been used in traditional medicine to treat a wide range of illnesses like cold, inflammation, gastritis, arthritis, diabetes, and respiratory problems.

In this study, an efficient protocol was developed to obtain multiplicated, healthy sweet basil plantlets with larger leaves and a greener color by culturing them on MS medium containing 1.0 mg/l 2iP. Chitosan and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were used as abiotic elicitors to maximize the main secondary metabolites (phenolic and flavonoid compounds and essential oil) in in vitro plantlets of sweet basil.

Herein, an in vitro multiplication protocol for Prunus campanulata was evaluated. The effects of 15.0, 30.0, and 45.0 g L−1 sucrose and three flask sealing methods (PVC film, rigid polypropylene lid, and rigid lid with membrane) were analyzed at the multiplication, rooting, and acclimatization stages.

Rhododendron formosum Wall. is an endemic plant to Eastern Himalaya (Meghalaya). Due to excessive collection from its natural habitat and deforestation, its populations have been reduced to a great extent and are becoming a rare sight in the wild. The present study was designed to establish a sustainable regeneration protocol to yield large-scale propagation of R. formosum and the genetic stability of regenerated plants was ascertained using Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) primers.

Sorghum is a C4 plant that offers great potential in biofuel production. However, it faces significant difficulties with in vitro growth, a major obstacle for research applications. To overcome this challenge and improve the utilization of sorghum for various studies, an optimized protocol was developed through explant selection, in vitro conditions, and field acclimatization.

Traditionally, coffee is propagated by seed. However, in recent years, the propagation of plants derived from somatic embryos has become increasingly important. The genetic homogeneity of plants derived from somatic embryos must be assessed before large-scale propagation.

The developed protocol for organogenesis, in vitro plantlet production, and cryopreservation opens the possibility for mass propagation of hybrid pine (Pinus elliottii var. elliottii x Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis).

Eucommia ulmoides Oliver (E. ulmoides) is rich in a variety of medicinally active compounds which have a very high economic value. Various types of explants (stem, stem with axillary bud, terminal bud, and leaves) were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with different types and concentrations of growth regulators.

Direct organogenesis is an important technique for plant rapid propagation, which is mainly controlled by the balance of auxin and cytokinin. Pinus massoniana (Lamb.) is a perennial tree species with high application value. Previous studies have shown that direct organ regeneration of young P. massoniana is feasible. However, there are few reports on direct organogenesis of adult P. massoniana.

Cryopreservation is a promising technique for the ex situ long-term conservation of plant biodiversity particularly of species that are not amenable to seed bank conservation. Garcinia indica (Thouars) Choisy is a species endemic to the biodiversity hotspot of the Western Ghats of India. Conservation of this species is difficult as it produces recalcitrant seeds, and therefore, it can only be conserved in the field genebanks or in their natural habitats.

Continuing productivity of the acclimatization stage of plantlets means successful micropropagation. Due to the free water and high humidity in the culture container environment, poorly developed cuticle results in rapid water loss and drying of plantlets with watery stems and leaves, incomplete stomata, and large intercellular space. When plantlets are exposed to an environmental condition different from the culture medium, problems, such as rapid water loss and drying, may be encountered, and the survival rate of plantlets in vitro may be reduced. The aim of this study was to reduce the stress factors that occur during the acclimatization phase.

Cryopreservation for sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrids) germplasm conservation is well established. Virus elimination using droplet-vitrification (D-V) and cryo- or osmo-therapy has only been recently reported for sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV). In this study, exposing large (3 mm) in vitro shoot tips of cultivars N12, N19, N58, and NCo376 infected with sugarcane yellow leaf virus (SCYLV) and NCo376 co-infected with SCMV and SCYLV were tested for virus elimination using both of the above-mentioned techniques.

Fritillaria roylei is an endangered bulbous perennial plant with high ethnopharmacological value. The high morphophysiological dormancy, habitat destruction, and irresponsive collection have resulted in the endangered status of F. roylei plants.

Plant growth regulators play a crucial role in the proliferation of protocorm-like bodies through somatic embryogenesis in Phalaenopsis orchids. Additionally, media components and cultural systems can impact their proliferation and reduce costs. This research aimed to enhance proliferation rates of orchid protocorm–like bodies and decrease costs of both media providing and culture systems.

Lilium rosthornii Diels, commonly known as the Nanchuan lily in China, is a unique wild lily species with potential medicinal or ornamental value. The development and utilization are mainly restricted to its highly efficient regeneration and the scarcity of new germplasm.

Waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) Sauer) is one of the most problematic weeds in the Midwestern agricultural systems in the USA. As a consequence of extensive herbicide selection pressure, many waterhemp populations across the USA evolved resistance to multiple herbicides, leading to limited options for chemical control. Genome editing tools, including CRISPR/Cas9, have great potential in weed science, especially when coupled with a gene drive system for a sustainable weed management.

Ficus tikoua Bureau is an ecologically functional perennial vine that belongs to the Moraceae family. Tissue culture is a common method for the rapid propagation of plants and is suitable for the rapid propagation of F. tikoua. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the process of F. tikoua organogenesis in vitro utilizing stem explants.

Glucoraphanin (GRA) produced by the hairy roots of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. variety Italica Planch) is converted to the secondary metabolite Sulforaphane (SF), which has anticancer properties under specific conditions, and the synthesis of SF is significantly affected by both Ca2+ and Fe2+.

This study investigates the influence of various parameters on the efficiency of cultivating and preserving Lemna aequinoctialis duckweed samples in vitro, with the aim of minimizing time, labor, and storage expenses.

Iridoids, a class of atypical monoterpenes, exhibit exceptional diversity within the Nepeta genus (subfam. Nepetoidae, fam. Lamiaceae).The majority of these plants produce iridoids of the unique stereochemistry, with nepetalactones (NLs) predominating; however, a few Nepeta species lack these compounds. By comparatively analyzing metabolomics, transcriptomics, gene co-expression, and phylogenetic data of the iridoid-producing N. rtanjensis Diklić & Milojević and iridoid-lacking N. nervosa Royle & Bentham, we presumed that one of the factors responsible for the absence of these compounds in N. nervosa is iridoid synthase (ISY).

WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) genes are plant-specific homeobox transcription factors and are known to play a key role during in vitro embryogenesis and organogenesis. To decipher the structural basis and genetic diversification of WOX family genes, this study performed a genome-wide analysis in Plantaginaceae.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade is a widely distributed signaling pathway, which is involved in growth, development, and stress responses in plants. Nardostachys jatamansi (Caprifoliaceae) is a perennial, high-altitude Himalayan medicinal plant, which experiences varying environmental fluctuations throughout its life span. However, how the fluctuating environment is regulated via MAPKs in high-altitude medicinal plants, such as Nardostachys jatamansi as well as in other members of the Caprifoliaceae family, is poorly understood.

Gerbera represents one of the top five most important traditional cut flowers. A major factor influencing the success of the cut flower industry is vase life which in turn has a significant influence on consumer preference. Therefore, the present study considered the effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) supplied in temporary immersion bioreactors (TIBs) on the growth and subsequent shelf life of gerbera flowers.

Cardiac glycosides (CGs) are well known for treating congestive heart failure, and several CGs like digoxin, digitoxin, and ouabain are marketed as drugs. In the present study, we have biosynthesized two CGs (CGCL520/227 and CGCL534/209) and elicited them up to 537- and 357-fold respectively in response to methyl jasmonate (MJ) treatment.

Chinese artichoke (Stachys sieboldii [Miq.]) is a popular healthcare food owing to its high contents of stachyose. Viral infections have caused the severe degeneration of germplasm in this plant species. An efficient virus elimination and micropropagation system is required to produce Chinese artichoke plants that are free of viruses.

Kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes) is a vegetable cultivated for its edible stem tuber. Although valued for its nutritional properties and tolerance to abiotic stress, kohlrabi is one of the least studied brassicas. In this review, we summarize the results of our decade-long research on in vitro morphogenesis of kohlrabi, starting from 2013.

An efficient in vitro micropropagation system for Platanus × acerifolia ‘F03’, a radiation mutant that has not flowered for 19 yr, has been established.

Polyploids exhibit significant breeding value because of their better vegetative yields, higher agronomic characteristics, and greater tolerance to stress. The present study reports the effective in vitro induction of tetraploidy in ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) cv. Himgiri using different concentrations of colchicine (0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, and 0.4%) for different durations (6 to 48 h).

This study focused on conservation and large-scale propagation of Begonia dipetala var. hydrophila (C.B. Clarke) Santhosh & Seema through a micropropagation system. An optimized protocol for aseptic seed germination was established using varying concentrations (0.5, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0 µM) of gibberellic acid (GA3), coupled with different incubation temperatures and light conditions.

An efficient and reproducible in vitro regeneration protocol was developed for elite cotton cultivar KC3 by using plant growth regulators (PGRs) in combination with seaweed polysaccharide (SP) extracts. The existence of polysaccharide in seaweed extract was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and carbon-13 (13C) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy analysis.

Somatic embryogenesis is a developmental pathway where somatic cells of plants generate embryogenic cells that subsequently mature into somatic embryos under favorable conditions. This process is one of the most important in vitro techniques for plant propagation, with diverse practical implications. In this study, ectopic proliferation and somatic embryos from Tecoma stans (L.) Juss. ex Kunth cell cultures were induced by employing primary conditioning Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 1.0 mg L−1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid.

Wild bananas and their relatives are potentially utilized for pre-breeding due to their genetic diversity, disease resistance, and tolerance to abiotic stress, and other desirable traits. The embryonic suspension culture of wild bananas provides a means to harness this genetic diversity for banana genetic improvement. This paper elucidates the response of different subspecies M. acuminata (ssp. malaccensis, microcarpa, sumatrana, and breviformis) to the induction, growth, and behavior of suspension cultures and their regeneration into plantlets.

The study investigates the impact of polyethylene glycol (PEG), sodium nitroprusside (SNP), and different carbon sources on the in vitro callus induction and regeneration of drought-tolerant and drought-sensitive rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes.

The appearance of water stress episodes triggers leaf abscission and decreases Ilex paraguariensis yield. To explore the mechanisms that allow it to overcome dehydration, we investigated how the root gene expression varied between water-stressed and non-stressed plants and how the modulation of gene expression was linked to metabolite composition and physiological status.

The mantled phenotype in oil palm is a somaclonal variant that can only be visibly detected when the plant reaches reproductive maturity, which is typically 2 to 3 yr after planting in the field. This phenotype is linked to the Bad Karma epiallele, which involves reduced methylation of the Karma retrotransposon in the EgDEF1 gene.

Juglans mandshurica is an important component of Korean pine mixed and secondary forests in Northeast China and is also a precious timber and economic species. In this study, plant regeneration of J. mandshurica has been established using stems with bud and mature zygotic embryos as explants.

Medicinal applications of Plumbago zeylanica and its metabolites on various diseases and low viability and inconsistent germination of its seeds are the reasons behind the loss of its genetic diversity. Hence, an efficient protocol for the short-term storage of P. zeylanica synthetic seeds, which is an overexploited medicinally valuable plant, was developed.

Epipactis flava Seidenf., a Thai rheophytic orchid, is endangered due to habitat destruction and climate change. In vitro conservation serves as an effective technique for the ex situ preservation of orchid diversity. This study investigated the in vitro storage of E. flava seedlings under slow growth conditions using Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with either sorbitol or mannitol individually at concentrations of 1.0%, 2.0%, 3.0%, and 4.0% (w/v) for 24 wk without subculture.

Byblis, a small genus of carnivorous plants predominantly found in Australia, is characterized by its passive trapping mechanism and unique floral features. The chemical composition of Byblis, including identified phenylethanoid glycosides, particularly acteoside, highlights its pharmacological potential with various biological activities.

In this study, a rapid and efficient biotechnological method was developed for the critically endangered (CR) endemic species Tripleurospermum ziganaense (Asteraceae) in Turkey to reintroduce it to its natural habitat.

Iron is one of the important essential elements for the nutrition of almost all living organisms. This element plays a crucial role in various processes in plant cells due to its ability to gain and lose electrons. This element is involved in several oxidation–reduction reactions and is necessary for several processes in plant cells, such as photosynthesis and respiration.

Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is one of the most widely cultivated species and is highly valued for its pungency. The pungency of pepper is primarily attributed to a group of chemical compounds known as capsaicinoids. These compounds are synthesized in the placental tissue of pepper fruits through the activation of specific genes and enzymes, thereby contributing to their pungency.

Plants exposed to harsh external environments such as cold and drought display stunted growth and delayed development. WRKY proteins can bind to the cis-acting element W-box to activate or repress transcription of downstream target genes to regulate responses, including different abiotic and biotic stresses.

Salt stress is a major factor restricting the growth, distribution, and yield of crops. Previous studies on NRT (nitrate transporter) have mainly focused on the nitrogen transport and response to metal ion stress. Suaeda salsa L. is a characteristic halophyte that can grow normally at a salt concentration of 200 mM. In this study, we want to know the S. salsa’s NRT-related genes and whether they can improve plant salt stress.

In honour of the 25th anniversary of Trends in Plant Science, we wanted to take a look back over some of the milestones from recent decades. Here, we asked authors of the June 2021 special issue to reflect on the changes that have occurred within the field of plant breeding during the past 25 years, as well as to contemplate what the future might hold.

Carrot is an important vegetable crop grown worldwide. The major economic problem in carrot cultivation is yellow disease caused by Bactericera trigonica, which induces biotic stress and has the greatest impact on crop productivity.

French marigold (Tagetes patula L.) is an aromatic plant known for its repellent effects on pests. It is traditionally grown in fields near many vegetable crops, including potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). However, the effects of marigold essential oil (EO) on the physiology of neighboring crops have been neglected in research. The aim of this study was to establish, for the first time, a comprehensive phytohormone profile of potato plants exposed to French marigold EO for different time periods (4, 8 and 12 h).

The evolutionary route from plant tissue culture (IAPTC) to plant biotechnology (IAPB). Plant biotechnology is an evolutionary scientific process, formulated and maintained by our accumulated cultural-societal knowledge and the invention of new technologies (Altman and Mesoudi submitted). It emerged thousands of years ago when wheat, rice, chickpeas, potatoes, and coffee (and other plants) were first domesticated; when grains were fermented by yeasts to produce bread; and when grape juice, barley, and tubers fermentation resulted in wine, alcohol, and beer.

This study describes a plantlet regeneration protocol of somatic embryos in Rosa ‘John F. Kennedy’ (hybrid tea rose). Different somatic embryo sizes exhibited significant differences in the single bud (SB type) regeneration rate and multiple bud (MB type) regeneration rate.

The conservation of threatened exceptional plants, which cannot be conserved by seed banking, requires in vitro technologies for many of the approaches needed for their long-term ex situ conservation. This study evaluated the current in vitro plant literature, as represented in Web of Science, to determine its taxonomic overlap with the families and genera of the 775 species currently listed as exceptional.

Axonopus compressus (Swartz) Beauv., a perennial herb in the Poaceae that has been introduced to a number of tropical and subtropical countries and regions, can serve as a lawn ground cover while its leaves can be developed as a bioenergy resource. It also displays some resistance to heavy metals, allowing it to be planted in areas and urban green spaces polluted by heavy metals.

The present study highlights the effect of silver nitrate (AgNO3) in the promotion of in vitro regeneration and morpho-structural growth and developments in Oxystelma esculentum (L.f.) Sm. The incorporation of AgNO3 into the Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium resulted in a favorable enhancement of shoot proliferation.

Areca concinna Thwaites (Arecaceae) is an endangered plant species endemic to South-Western Sri Lanka and distributed primarily in Sri Lanka, India, and Southeast Asia. This palm was listed under endangered plants species by IUCN (The International Union for Conservation of Nature) due to habitat loss. Clonal propagation is essential for conservation and maintenance of this endangered species. In an effort to conserve this plant species, a protocol was developed for clonal multiplication of A. concinna Thwaites.

Paspalum notatum Flüggé is a subtropical grass native from the Americas and one of the main components of the subtropical South American grasslands. Although P. notatum exhibits a high forage productivity and persistence, some limitations are observed in the species, such as forage quality due to high lignin content.

This study describes the in vitro regeneration of ‘Haruka’ plants, a new cultivar of Japanese flowering cherry registered in 2021 by the Japanese statutory authority. As this is a double-flowered cultivar produced by inter-specific hybridization, in vitro regeneration is an effective method for large-scale propagation.

In the past decade, the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat paired associated protein 9 (CRISPR-Cas9) mediated gene editing has been extensively utilized for investigation of gene function and the improvement of agronomic traits in plants (Zhu et al. 2020). The engineered CRISPR-Cas9 comprises two integral components: the Cas9 nuclease and a singular guide RNA (sgRNA).