Isolation and characterization of sequences homologous to the tobacco clone axi 1 (auxin independent) from a Vicia sativa nodule cDNA library

In this research, partial nucleotide sequences of the axi 1 gene, which is related to auxin perception and transduction, isolated from Vicia sativa using cDNA library screening were investigated. Four V. sativa cDNA clones representing homologous of the tobacco axi 1 (auxin independent) cDNA clone were isolated and characterized. With sequence analysis two different clones were observed, called 10/3a and 16/3b. Sequences about 500 bp from the 5' end and 450 bp from the 3' end were determined from the 10/3a clone. The sequences from the 5' end of cDNA clone 10/3a shared about 58 % similarity at the nucleotide level and 61% identity at the polypeptide level with the sequences of the Nicotiana tabacum axi 1 cDNA clone. At the 3' end of 10/3a, 63 % similarity at the nucleotide level was observed with the clone. In 16/3b about 500 bp was sequenced from the 5' end. There was 64 % nucleotide sequence similarity and 61 % polypeptide sequence identity. Northern blot analysis showed that the size of the mRNA was about 2 kb, like that of the axi 1 isolated from tobacco. It was shown that homolog sequences of axi 1 were expressed in flowers, leaves, stems, roots and nodules of the V. sativa plants

In vitro propagation of Ficus carica L. var. Bursa Si·yahi through meristem culture

Bursa Siyahi is a well-adapted fig cultivar under Qukurova conditions. However, almost all trees are infected with the fig mosaic virus. In vitro propagation of this cultivar through meristem culture was carried out in order to obtain virus-free plant propagation. The meristems were isolated during the growing seasons and cultured on Linsmair and Skoog (1965) medium, supplemented with 0.5 mg/1 Benzyladenine (BA), 0.1 mg/1 Indole Butyric Acid (IBA), 0.1 mg/1 Gibberellic Acid (GA3) + 89 mg/1 Phloroglucinol (PG) and + 2 g/1 active charcoal (AC). Then, growing shoots were transferred to a shoot proliferation medium including 89 mg/1 PG, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/1 BAP. In order to induce rooting, propagated shoots were subcultured onto a rooting medium with 0, 1 and 2 mg/1 IBA. In the meristem phase, survival and shoot formation rate of meristems was investigated, in the proliferation phase, the rate of proliferation and the effect of subculture number on the proliferation rate and in the rooting phase, the rate of rooted explants and the number of roots per explant. At the end of the meristem phase, the meristems which were isolated from shoot tips taken in spring or autumn times and cultured on a medium with phloroglucinol or active charcoal showed the highest shoot formation rate (50.1 %). The propagation rate was found to be higher (4.43 plantlet/plant) in the medium containing 1.0 mg/1 BAP than 0.5 mg/1 BAP (3.52). At the end of the rooting experiments, differences between the auxin treatments were not found to be statistically significant; however, the highest rooting (75.0 %) was obtained in medium without auxin. This was followed by 1 mg/1 and 2 mg/1 IBA containing media having 68.33 and 58.33 % rooting, respectively

Regeneration and histological analysis of regeneration in bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) stand.) [Su Kabaginda (Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Stand.) rejenerasyon ve rejenerasyonun histolojik analizi]

Two different types of explant (proximal and flamingo-bill) from Emphasis seedlings, a hybrid cultivar of bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Stand.), germinated under dark and light conditions were cultured on 9 regeneration MS media containing various combinations of BA (0, 1.0, and 2.0 mg l-1) and IAA (0, 0.25, and 0.5 mg l-1). Comparison of the explant types showed that the flamingo-bill type explant had better shoot formation than did the proximal explant. The MS medium containing 1 mg l-1 of BA was optimal for shoot formation capacity when flamingo-bill type explants germinated in the dark (44%) and light (36%) were used. Histological analysis showed that explant cell division began after 3 days in regeneration medium and formation of primordium was observed in the tissues in culture between days 5 and 7. Differentiation of meristimatic structures was first observed after 9 days and development completed after 9-12 days in the culture. © TÜBİTAK

The effects of different explants, basal media and growth regulators on regeneration of carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.)

Ceratonia siliqua L. is a slow growing evergreen tree of the family Fabaceae used for the rehabilitation of marginal and submarginal dry areas of the Mediterranean basin due to it's resistant to drought and salt tolerance. In this study, the effects of different basal media (Woody Plant Medium and Murashige and Skoog medium), explant types (cotyledon and hypocotyl) and growth regulators (BA, Kinetin and NAA) on in vitro callus formation, differentiation of callus to shoot and root formation were investigated. High frequencies of caullogenesis were obtained and the best medium for callus induction was WPM supplemented with 1.0 mg L-1 BA + 0.5 mg L-1 Kinetin + 0.5 mg L-1 NAA and 0.5 mg L-1 BA + 1.0 mg L-1 Kinetin + 0.5 mg L-1 NAA for hypocotyl explants and 0.5 mg L-1 BA + 1.0 mg L-1 Kinetin + 0.5 mg L-1 NAA; 0.5 mg L-1 BA + 0.5 mg L-1 Kinetin + 0.5 mg L-1 NAA and 1 mg L-1 Kinetin + 0.5 mg L-1 NAA for cotyledon explants. Callus induction was more readily obtained from hypocotyl explants than cotyledon explants. It was determined that explant types as significant on shoot formation, statistically. The shoot ratio was obtained from cotyledon explants in WPM as 10%. The best regeneration was obtained from cotyledon explants placed on WPM (30%) instead of MS medium.Academy of Scientific Research and TechnologyThis study was supported by the Scientific Researc

The effect of mycorrhiza in nutrient uptake and biomass of cherry rootstocks during acclimatization

The effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on growth and nutrient uptake of micropropagated cherry rootstocks was evaluated during acclimatization and plant establishment. Two commonly used cherry rootstocks, 'Edabriz' and 'Gisela 5', were propagated through tissue culture and grown in a greenhouse for 16 weeks. Plantlets were inoculated with Glomus clarum, Glomus caledonium, Glomus etunicatum, Glomus intraradices, Glomus mosseae, cocktail (mixture of these species) and indigenous mycorrhiza into three different substrate mixtures. All micropropagated cherry plantlets survived transplanting. After 16 weeks, mycorrhizal plantlets had greater nutrient uptake than non-mycorrhizal plantlets. Roots of inoculated cherry plantlets were heavily colonized with AMF. These results indicated that mycorrhizal inoculation during transplantation from in vitro to ex vitro culture can induce growth responses. The experiments also showed that the mycorrhizal cherry rootstocks were healthier and had higher Zn and P contents when compared to controls for both rootstocks. G. mosseae was one of the most efficient AMF species. Indigenous AMF isolated from Çukurova region also significantly increased the plant growth and nutrient uptake. 'Gisela 5' rootstocks had significantly higher P and Zn contents than 'Edabriz'. Taken together, our results indicate that AMF inoculations enhance growth and development of micropropagated plants which would be beneficial to improve cherry rootstock production. © 2010 University of Bucharest

Investigation of the self incompatibility mechanism in clementine (Citrus clementina Hort. ex Tan.) using cDNA-AFLP

In this study the pollen-pistil interaction was investigated to understand which genes are involved in the self-incompatibility mechanism of Clementine mandarins. Pollen tube growth of clementine 'Algerian Tangerine' (self-incompatible) was analyzed using the complementary DNA-amplified fragment length polymorphism technique to identify genes putatively involved in self-incompatibility. The transcript profiles of unpollinated and self-pollinated (for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7th days) styles and stigmas of 'Algerian Tangerine' were compared. Complementary DNA profiles showing transcriptional differences between unpollinated and self-pollinated stigmas and styles were excised from the gels and directly sequenced. Some unigenes were determined from the results of direct cDNA sequencing. Selected gene tags showed transcriptional differences between unpollinated and self-pollinated styles and stigmas during pollen germination and pollen tube elongation. The differential expression of some sequences was confirmed with the quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase (RT PCR) chain reaction

Determination of gene escape and fruit quality characteristics in transgenic melon (Cucumis melo L. var. inodorus) [Transgenik kavunda gen kaçışı ve meyve kalite kriterlerinin belirlenmesi]

Gene escape and fruit quality characteristics of transgenic melons (Cucumis melo L. var inodorus cv. 'Kirkagac 637') resistant to zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) and control plants were investigated under screenhouse conditions. No significant differences were observed between transgenic and transgenic × control genotypes, with regard to rind thickness, fruit cavity length, fruit cavity width, total soluble solids, pistil scar diameter, and peduncle length. Fruit characters, including fruit weight, fruit width, fruit length, fruit flesh thickness, and peduncle diameter were significantly different. These results indicate that transgenic × control genotypes had higher values than transgenic (T4 and T20) genotypes, regarding fruit weight, fruit width, fruit length, fruit flesh thickness, and peduncle diameter. Significant differences were not observed between transgenic (T4 and T20), control, and transgenic × control genotypes in terms of L-ascorbic acid, malic acid, citric acid, sucrose, glucose, or fructose, but differences were observed for fruit total acidity. Esters, lactones, and alcohols were aroma components, but none differed significantly between the transgenic and control genotypes. The results show that there was 100% gene escape in the control plants within 10 m of the transgenic plants, while there was 70% gene escape in plants 12.5, 15, and 17.5 m from the transgenic plants under screenhouse conditions. © TÜBİTAK