Effect of Cold Pretreatment, Anthers Orientation, Spikelet Position and Donor Tiller on the Callusing Response in Barley Anther In vitro Culture

The anthers in vitro culture is a useful technique for plant improvement as to create new varieties. However, the success of this technique is limited by several factors. This study was carried out to identify factors as the influence of spikelet position in the spike, position of donor tiller on plate tillering and anther orientation onto the medium as well as cold pretreatment and the genotype that affect the callusing induction in anthers in vitro culture of three cultivars of Moroccan barley (Arig 8, Asni and Tamelalt). Among genotypes, the callusing response was significantly higher in Asni (21.42%). The callusing response was significantly decreased when spikes stemmed from tillers far from the main tiller on the same tillering plate. However, anthers coming from the spikelets of the middle part of the spike showed the highest callusing response (29.85%) compared with the basal (14.83%) and the upper (6.72%) parts. It was also shown that anther cold pretreatment at 4°C for 14 days had a beneficial effect only on the callusing response but it decreased the regeneration of green plants, due to the interaction between cold pretreatment and genotypes to which spring barley is recalcitrant and more predisposed to albinism, especially six-row type (Arig 8). Moreover, anther orientation onto the surface medium had a marked effect on callusing response, anthers placed in upper orientation developed more calli (60.22%) than those in flat position (18.99%). Our findings suggest that the studied factors control the callusing response. Especially, the Anthers orientation that must be taken into account during androgenesis through anthers in vitro culture

Biotechnology and In Vitro Culture as an Alternative System for Secondary Metabolite Production

Medicinal plants are rich sources of bioactive compounds widely used as medicaments, food additives, perfumes, and agrochemicals. These secondary compounds are produced under stress conditions to carry out physiological tasks in plants. Secondary metabolites have a complex chemical structure with pharmacological properties. The widespread use of these metabolites in a lot of industrial sectors has raised the need to increase the production of secondary metabolites. Biotechnological methods of cell culture allow the conservation of plants, as well as the improvement of metabolite biosynthesis and the possibility to modify the synthesis pathways. The objective of this review is to outline the applications of different in vitro culture systems with previously reported relevant examples for the optimal production of plant-derived secondary metabolites