Effect of Different Cytokinins on Shoot Outgrowth and Bioactive Compounds Profile of Lemograss Essential Oil

Abstract

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) essential oil (EO) is a major source of bioactive compounds (BC) with anticancer activity such as α-citral, limonene, geraniol, geranyl acetate, and β-caryophyllene. Comparative studies about cytokinin effects on BC profiles in lemongrass are missing. Here, we evaluated four cytokinins (2iP, tZ, BAP, and KIN) in two different osmotic media, MS-N (3% sucrose, 3 g L−1 Gelrite™) and MS-S (5% sucrose, 5 g L−1 Gelrite™). It results in a higher multiplication rate in BAP containing medium compared to tZ, KIN, and 2iP (p ≤ 0.05). While shoots grown on MS-N/BAP, tZ, and KIN exhibited a highly branching morphology, MS-N/2iP produced a less branching architecture. BC profile analysis of established plants in pots revealed that their maxima production depends on the in vitro shoot growth conditions: i.e., highest content (80%) of α-citral in plants that were cultured in MS-S/BAP (p ≤ 0.05), limonene (41%) in MS-N/2iP, or geranyl acetate (25.79%) in MS-S/2iP. These results indicate that it is possible to increase or address the production of BC in lemongrass by manipulating the cytokinin type and osmotic pressure in culture media. The culture protocol described here is currently successfully applied for somatic embryogenesis induction and genetic transformation in lemongrass.

Insights into chemistry, extraction and industrial application of lemon grass essential oil -A review of recent advances

“…β-Myrcene contributes to the overall composition of LEO and is known for its potential sedative and muscle relaxant effects. Likewise, Muala, Desobgo, & Jong, 2021; Elchaghaby, Abd El-Kader, & Aly, 2022; Camas-Reyes et al, 2022 also used the GC–MS approach to discover Citral, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Neral, and Geranial. Some compounds that have anticancer effects are geraniol, geranyl acetate, citronellal, limonene, and β-caryophyllene.…”

The Impact of Auxin and Cytokinin on the Growth and Development of Selected Crops

“…Cytokinins are key compounds regulating the development and function of chloroplasts [38]. The highest cytokinin concentrations are recorded at the initial stage of leaf development, which is attributed to cytokinesis stimulation, membrane formation, plastid division, and, occurring at that time, intensive protein synthesis [39,42].…”

The Cytokinins BAP and 2-iP Modulate Different Molecular Mechanisms on Shoot Proliferation and Root Development in Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)

“…C. citratus plants were cultivated under standard in vitro conditions under a 16/8 h light/dark photoperiod, according to Camas-Reyes et al [4]. Two week-old germinated seedlings of lemongrass (C. citratus) on an MS medium [85] supplemented with 1% sucrose, at pH 5.8 were subcultured in two different CM: an MS medium supplemented with BAP 10 µM, 5% sucrose, 5 g/L gelrite TM , at pH 5.8, and an MS medium supplemented with 2-iP 10 µM, 5% sucrose, 5 g/L gelrite TM , at pH 5.8.…”

“…The major share of lemongrass oil produced in the world is either from Cymbopogon flexuosus or from C. citratus [2]. Lemongrass is known for its high content of essential oils, such as citral, geraniol, citronellol, citronellal, linalool, elemol, 1,8-cineole, limonene, β-caryophyllene, methyl heptanone, and geranyl acetate/formate [3,4], as well as for its applications as a medicinal supplement, insect repellent, insecticide, perfumery, and pharmaceuticals [1,5,6]. Plant micropropagation via a shoot apex culture supplemented with 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) has been the most effective cytokinin (CK) in grasses; little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium L.) [7],…”

“…We have previously reported that, when using an MS medium supplemented with BAP 10 µM, 5% sucrose, and 5 g/L gelrite TM , a high shoot proliferation was induced (23.3 shoots/ explant) [4]. In contrast, when using the natural CK 6-(γ,γ-Dimethylallylamino)purine (2-iP) 10 µM, the expected activation of shoots was substantially decreased (8.8 shoots/explant) and rooting developed in one step [4]. In this scenario, two different molecular mechanisms were activated under the BAP and 2-iP culture media in the lemongrass tissue culture.…”