1,721,220 research outputs found
Ornamental plant tissue culture industry in Flanders (Belgium)
No full textPlant tissue culture research for ornamental plants in Belgium started in the early 1970s. Ghent University’s Department of Plant Production was an important player and drove the creation of spin-off companies in the 1980s. These companies started to micropropagate high value plants on a commercial scale. Plant tissue culture has remained an important economic activity, with medium to large companies located mainly in Flanders (northern Belgium). Today, most companies have outsourced the labour intensive aspects of micropropagation while maintaining the administrative headquarters and research activities within Flanders. Here we describe some historical aspects of plant tissue culture in Belgium and present the state of the art of micropropagation industry in Flanders. We also summarise the plant tissue culture research activities at universities and research stations
A screen for the identification of male meiotic mutants based on pollen size
No full textMeiosis is a specific cell division that produces four haploid gametes from diploid parental cells, in two rounds of chromosome segregation. Formation of unreduced gametes and polyploidization are the main consequences caused by any defect through the progression of meiosis. To date, a quite number of meiotic genes involved in diverse range of meiotic processes have been identified. The main aim of the work was to identify new mutants showing unreduced gamete formation, due to abnormal meiosis. We have screened a pool of EMS mutagenized Arabidopsis thaliana lines based on the presence of large pollen. However, the fertility and ploidy of the mutants were also considered as main criteria for the screening of the mutant plants. Here we describe mutants producing polyads, which clearly depicts a defect during meiosis. Further research will be to determine the meiotic defect caused and to localize the responsible gene
Effect of red-, far-red- and blue-light-emitting diodes on in vitro growth of Ficus benjamina
No full textThe effects of monochromatic blue, red and far-red light from commercial available light-emitting diode modules on the in vitro growth of Ficus benjamina ‘Exotica’ were compared with the effect of fluorescent light. The plants were micropropagated on a basal medium with 0.5 mg/L IAA and 2 mg/L BA. Our study showed that monochromatic blue, red and far-red and their combinations are suitable to manipulate the number of shoots, shoot length, shoot/callus weight ratio and leaf length/width ratio in Ficus benjamina. In general, the presence of blue light had a stimulating effect on the number of shoots, but also reduced shoot length. Grown under red light, the explants produced less but more elongated shoots. Blue light stimulated callus growth even in the presence of red light. Far-red had a negative effect on biomass production in general with a reduction in total number of shoots and both shoot cluster and callus weight. Under red and far-red light conditions, the morphology of the leaves was different from blue light conditions with an increase in relative leaf length as the most prominent characteristic
Genetic transformation of Fragaria with candidate genes involved in drought stress
No full textAgrobacterium-mediated transformation of Fragaria was performed in F. vesca, F. chiloensis and F. × ananassa ‘Ventana’ and ‘EL02.2011’ to allow a functional analysis of CAT (catalase), P5CS (Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase) and FasAIV (sucrose acid invertase) genes under drought stress. These genes were targeted independently for the silencing by RNAi and over-expression in Fragaria. In vitro-grown plantlets of F. vesca, F. chiloensis and F. × ananassa ‘EL02.2011’ and in vivo-grown plants of F. × ananassa ‘Ventana’ were transformed with three different RNAi constructs coding for a hairpin RNA containing inverted repeat of F. vesca sequences for these three genes. They were also transformed with one construct coding for over-expression of FaAIV whole coding sequence from F. × ananassa. Transformation for all constructs was confirmed by visible GFP expression from the same T-DNA. There was no callusing and regeneration of F. chiloensis. Callus formation was obtained in F. × ananassa ‘Ventana’ but shoot proliferation was weak. F. vesca presented reasonable callusing, shoot regeneration and transformation using kanamycin (25 mg/L) selection. F. × ananassa ‘EL02.2011’ showed high regeneration and transformation efficiency with stable GFP expression in shoots. The occurrence of transgenic plants was confirmed by PCR analysis of genomic DNA in F. vesca and F. × ananassa ‘EL02.2011’. Consistent with previous observations, here direct comparison of wild species and cultivars shows that the transformation efficiency in Fragaria can be affected by the type genotype, gene, construct and explant as well as the concentration of A. tumefaciens suspension culture
The optimization of crop response to climatic stress through modulation of plant stress response mechanisms. Opportunities for biostimulants and plant hormones to meet climate challenges
Full text linkThis review discusses the use of agronomic management practices to enhance crop stress resilience to climate stress through the modulation of natural plant growth regulatory pathways. The use of biostimulants or plant hormones to improve crop resilience is subject to strict regulatory oversight if changes in the regulation of plant growth are implied. Climate change is a major threat to crop potential and is characterized by both long-term shifts in temperature and precipitation patterns as well as increased occurrence of extreme weather events, posing an immediate threat to agriculture. Breeding and exogenous inputs have been used to enhance cropping system resilience, although these management practices are either too slow or constrained by cost and availability, to address rapidly emerging climate challenges. Exogenous biostimulants, microbials and plant hormones have shown great promise as novel mechanisms to optimize natural plant resilience, resulting in immediate but non-permanent improvements in plant responses to climate-induced stresses, representing a powerful but underexplored approach to enhance crop productivity under climate stress. The use of these exogenous inputs is, however, constrained by outdated and scientifically unsound regulations that consider any such modification as pesticidal in nature. The failure to modernize regulatory frameworks for the use of biostimulants in agriculture will constrain the development of safe effective tools and deprive growers of means to respond to climate change. Here, we discuss the scientific rationale for eliminating the regulatory barriers governing biostimulants or products that modulate plant regulatory networks and propose a framework for enabling legislation to strengthen cropping system resilience
Development of tools for the in vitro conservation and modulation of saponin production of four medicinal Maesa spp.
Full text linkExploring the potential of human urine derivatives in circular agriculture: a case study on lettuce
No full textUnlocking the potential of sustainable agriculture relies on innovative approaches such as recycling crop waste and exploiting wastewater. Herewith, human urine derivatives were integrated into the fertigation of soilless-grown lettuce. The effects were remarkable: not only did they impact primary metabolites such as amino acids, proteins, and sugars, but they also influenced secondary metabolites such as polyphenols and anthocyanins, along with antioxidant enzyme activity. K-struvite, a urine precipitate with CaO and NaOH, elicited responses comparable to those of the control NPK and correlated with high biometric values. Interestingly, urine precipitate–CaO and electrodialysis (ED) concentrate stimulated accumulation of leaf polyphenols and anthocyanins, while urine precipitate–CaO induced high ABTS antioxidant capacity, highlighting their potential to enhance antioxidant activity and nutritive quality. Moreover, hydrolyzed urine and aurin induced a significant boost of essential amino acid content, underlining their role in increasing the nutritive value of lettuce. However, they also correlated with higher levels of MDA, a marker of lipid peroxidation, and reduced APX activity, indicating the need for further optimization. These findings underscore the promising role of human urine as an organic component in soilless lettuce fertilization, paving the way for more sustainable and resource-efficient agricultural practices
Cytology of male meiotic chromosome segregation defects in Arabidopsis thaliana and Brassica napus
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