Calcium alginate encapsulated synthetic seed production in Plumbago rosea L. for germplasm exchange and distribution

Abstract

L. (Plumbaginaceae), is a medicinal shrub commercially exploited for its naphthoquinone principle, plumbagin, extracted from the roots especially for treating skin disorders. As the plant is exploited from the wild without being replenished, conservation of the species becomes inevitable. Synthetic seeds would provide for effective conservation, germplasm exchange and distribution of this species. A reliable protocol for synthetic seed production in has been developed encapsulating the axillary buds. The axillary buds from cultures established and multiplied using the nodal explants in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with Benzyl Adenine (BA) 1.5 mg/L and Indole 3-Acetic acid 1.0 mg/L, were used for synseed production. The plantlet conversion efficiency was the highest in synthetic seeds developed with sodium alginate 2.5% in modified MS with 0.4 M sucrose and CaCl 100 mM. This combination gave the earliest bud initiation (9.19 ± 0.39 days) and maximum number of shoots per explant (2.31 ± 0.16 shoots). Microshoots from the culture, when inoculated on to MS medium supplemented with Naphthalene Acetic Acid 1.0 mg/L gave the best rooting response with 10.67 ± 0.94 roots per plant and 5.42 ± 0.29 cm root length. This is the first report of synthetic seed production in using axillary buds as explant.

Encapsulation of Nodal Segments for Propagation and Short-term Storage of Giloe (Tinospora cordifolia Willd.): A Medicinally Important Plant Species

“…Artificial seeds are encapsulated tissue culture resultant micropropagules that hold plant conversion potential and is employed for conservation, germplasm exchange and distribution. The use of nodal segments as explant for syn seed production abolishes the fortuitous of somaclonal variation [51]. Artificial seed production using nodal segments in Tinospora cordifolia, a medicinal plant becoming extinct owing to high commercial exploitation is not yet reported.…”

“…The artificial seeds are bounded by a defensive coating, which delivers essential protection throughout storage, handling and transportation. The coating could integrate plant nutrients or plant growth regulators that aid its conversion into plantlet [51]. In the investigation, nodal segments from the in vitro cultures were encapsulated using sodium alginate (1, 2 2.5 and 3 5% m/v) in modified MS medium and calcium chloride (50, 75 and 100 200 mM).…”

Propagation, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Plumbago indica - A Review

“…In the presence of 1.5 mg/L BAP and 0.3 mg/L NAA nodal explants gave 80% shooting response with highest number of shoots per explant (13.62 ± 0.8) [30]. Nodal explants cultured on MS medium supplemented with 1.5 mg/L BA and 1.0 mg/L IAA have given earliest bud initiation (7.94 ± 0.22 days), maximum shoot length (5.33 ± 0.19 cm) and Maximum shoot proliferation (5.28 ± 0.26 shoots) [31]. Shoot induction was also done by using leaf explants.…”

Conservation, Regeneration and Genetic Stability of Regenerants from Alginate-Encapsulated Shoot Explants of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis

“…On the other hand, lower concentrations of sodium alginate (1 or 2%) or calcium chloride (25 or 50 mM) produced weak structures with no define shape which disintegrated while being handled [45,60]. In general, it is concluded that 2-3% sodium alginate gel exposed for 30 min to 100 mM calcium chloride is an optimal combination for acceptable bead production and subsequent satisfactory germination response [29,30,61]. In the present study, the combination of 2.5% sodium alginate with 100 mM of calcium chloride for a 30 min complexation time resulted in the formation of high quality beads, easy to handle (hardness 0.27 ± 0.02 N), followed by an unimpeded germination response.…”