In vitro cormlet production of saffron (Crocus sativus L. Kashmirianus) and their flowering response under greenhouse

Abstract

A complete protocol for the saffron cormlet production under in vitro conditions and subsequent flowering under greenhouse conditions is described. Highest number of cormlets (70.0 ± 0.30) per corm slice (explant) could be regenerated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) half strength medium supplemented with thidiazuron (TDZ) (20 µM), Indole acetic acid (IAA) (10 µM), and sucrose (40 g/l). Maximum germination (90%) of these cormlets could be achieved on MS medium containing 6-benzyl amino purine (BAP) (20 µM) and α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) (15 µM). In order to increase the size of the in vitro raised cormlets, these were cultured on MS medium containing TDZ (15 µM) and IAA in the range of 1.5-30 µM. Maximum increase in cormlet size could be attained on TDZ (15 µM) + IAA (12.5 µM) + sucrose (30 g/l), and the average size of cormlets was 2.5g. In another experiment, apical vegetative buds of actively growing corms were cultured for cormlet development, and corms of size 2.5g could be developed on MS medium with NAA (15 µM), BAP (20 µM), and sucrose (30 g/l). The in vitro developed cormlets were dried under shade at 25 ± 2°C for 7 d. These were then planted in small cups containing clay loam soil and kept in green house at 20 ± 2°C. In vitro developed cormlets with mean weight 2.5 g showed maximum flowering (25%) as well as vegetative growth (55%), while only 19% cormlets of 2.0 g flowered. To our knowledge this is the first report on successful flowering from in vitro raised cormlets under greenhouse.

Antibacterial and antioxidant activity of methanol extracts ofCrocus sativusL.c.v. Kashmirianus

“…• C under 16-h photoperiod, illuminated with cool white fluorescent tubes (7400 lux) (Parray et al 2012). The best media combination MS (1/2) + BAP(20 µM ) + NAA(20µM ) + sucrose(30 g l −1 ) was identified based on the callus formation efficiency (Figure 1).…”

Development of a system for efficient callus production, somatic embryogenesis and gene editing using CRISPR/Cas9 in Saffron (Crocus sativus L.)

“…During the last two decades or so, number of media have been used by various researchers for in vitro studies in Saffron. Comparative studies have been undertaken between Murashige and Skoog (MS) and Linsmaier and Skoog (LS) media [18], LS for callogenesis and organogenesis [19], B5 for indirect and direct regeneration [20] and 1/2MS for direct regeneration of shoot in saffron [21]. In the present studies we used complete MS medium as it has been shown to be the best suited medium for complete propagation of saffron.…”

“…Among the cytokinins used in earlier studies, TDZ was independently capable to induce shoot regeneration whereas BAP, zeatin and Kn required auxins to stimulate multiple shoots [20]. Parray et al demonstrated very high efficiency of TDZ in regenerating over 70 cormlets per slice of corm when they used 1/2MS supplemented with TDZ and IAA [21]. In our study, significant increase in biomass and mean number of somatic embryos was observed after using TDZ with IAA in the medium (Table 2).…”

“…The added feature of activated charcoal at 0.1 g/L had a positive effect on growth rate of somatic embryos by reducing tissue and medium browning, phenolic exudations (which hinder certain growth stages in plants) and peroxidase activity. Many other researchers have used activated charcoal in addition to the PGRs to improve the frequency of regeneration in saffron [21,[32][33][34]. A large energy reserve required by the shoots for conversion into a cormlet is provided by a good amount of carbon source.…”

Manipulation of Plant Growth Regulators on Phytochemical Constituents and DNA Protection Potential of the Medicinal Plant Arnebia benthamii

“…Medicinal plants are vital curative agents for curing human ailments. The overexploitation of natural plant resources encouraged various programs such as conservation, micropropagation, and incremental plant architecture [ 1 , 2 ]. Looking at the present scenario, a significant proportion of the Northwest Himalayan (NWH) medicinal herbs, particularly Arnebia benthamii (Wall.…”