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Special Issue "Micropropagation Research: Current Applications, Prospects, and Challenges"

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A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Crop Breeding and Genetics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 December 2022) | Viewed by 5393

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Augusto Peixe

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MED – Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, Fitotecnia Department, Sciences and Technology School, University of Évora, Mitra Campus, Ap. 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
Interests: plant propagation and plant breeding; tissue culture techniques including micropropagation; micrografting; meristem tip culture and somatic embryogenesis; biology and physiology of adventitious rooting; breeding for resistance to biotic stress
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Hélia Cardoso

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MED – Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, IIFA – Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada, Universidade de Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7005-449 Évora, Portugal
Interests: molecular mechanisms underlying plant plasticity upon abiotic stresses; the analysis of transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome through high-throughput platforms; plant ability to develop adventitious roots and somatic embryos as morphogenic responses upon external stimulus
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plant micropropagation deals with the aseptic culture of plant cells, tissues, and organs, under controlled nutritional and environmental conditions. Apart from its importance on fundamental and applied research, plant micropropagation has in recent years attracted strong interest in the agronomical and industrial sectors. The development of systems allowing efficient vegetative propagation of horticultural and forest plant species, the ability to eliminate plant pathogens developing high-quality plant materials, and the production of economically valuable secondary metabolites are aspects that have contributed to the increased interest on micropropagation systems. In addition, micropropagation systems are considered the most efficient technology to assist plant breeding, not only through the possibility of exploiting somaclonal and gametoclonal variation but also because it allows plant production from a single cell, a fundamental aspect when genetic engineering approaches are followed in plant breeding. For all those reasons, plant micropropagation techniques have become an integral part of advances in plant science research.

Research areas may include, but are not limited, to the following:

• Advances on micropropagation systems (new protocols, new culture media, new light sources and laboratory equipment’s, for multiplication, rooting and acclimatization)

• In vitro commercial production (somatic embryogenesis, bioreactors, temporary immersion, robotics and automation systems)

• In vitro germplasm conservation (including cryopreservation and long-term storage protocols)

• In vitro techniques to support plant breeding (virus elimination, embryo rescue, dihaploidization, protoplast fusion, mutagenesis)

• In vitro co-culture systems (endophytes and mycorrhiza identification and applications)

Dr. Augusto Peixe
Dr. Hélia Cardoso
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

micropropagation
cryopreservation
embryo rescue
somatic embryogenesis
protoplasts
plant regulators
co-culture
endophytes
bioreactors
automation

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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Open AccessArticle

Optimization of In Vitro Propagation of Pear (Pyrus communis L.) ‘Pyrodwarf^®(S)’ Rootstock

and

Agronomy 2023, 13(1), 268; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13010268 - 16 Jan 2023

Viewed by 960

Abstract

Pears are among the most economically important fruits in the world that are grown in all temperate zones. Pyrus communis L., ‘Pyrodwarf^®(S)’ rootstock is one of the gene sources used to improve fruit productivity, rootstock resistance, and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Traditional propagation of P. communis L. is time-consuming and limited by a short growing season and harsh winter conditions. Therefore, in vitro propagation is a suitable alternative. Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) and woody plant medium (WPM) supplemented with different concentrations of 6-benzyladenine (BA) and kinetin (Kin), individually or in combination, were used for in vitro shoot proliferation. Nodal segments were used as explants. MS medium augmented with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) or indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) was then used for rooting of microshoots. A combination of 2 mg·L⁻¹ BA and 1 mg·L⁻¹ Kin in MS medium resulted in a significant improvement in shoot proliferation. This combination produced the highest number of shoots (4.352 per explant) and leaves (10.02 per explant). The longest shoots (4.045 cm) were obtained in WPM enriched with 1 mg·L⁻¹ BA. However, these shoots were not suitable for multiplication and rooting steps. The largest number of roots (5.50 per microshoot) was obtained on MS medium augmented with IAA at 1 mg·L⁻¹. The produced plantlets were cultivated in pots filled with perlite and cocopeat (in a ratio of 1:3) and acclimatized gradually in a greenhouse, recording an even 90% survival rate. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Micropropagation Research: Current Applications, Prospects, and Challenges)

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Open AccessCommunication

Dopamine, Chlorogenic Acid, and Quinones as Possible Cofactors of Increasing Adventitious Rooting Potential of In Vitro Krymsk 5 Cherry Rootstock Explants

Athanasios Tsafouros

and

Peter A. Roussos

Agronomy 2022, 12(5), 1154; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12051154 - 10 May 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 720

Abstract

In the present study, the effect of some not commonly used phenolic compounds was evaluated during the in vitro rooting stage of the cherry rootstock ‘Krymsk 5′ (P. fruticosa × P. lannesiana), in the absence or presence of auxin. Two sets of experiments were conducted. In the first set, the following substances were tested: the o-diphenol chlorogenic acid, in five concentrations (0 μΜ, 0.5 μΜ, 1 μΜ, 5 μΜ, and 50 μΜ) in the presence of a suboptimal indolebutyric acid (IBA) concentration (5 μΜ), the catecholamine dopamine in five concentrations (0 μΜ, 0.5 μΜ, 1 μΜ, 5 μΜ, and 50 μΜ), and the quinone 5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone in four concentrations (0 μΜ, 0.25 μΜ, 1 μΜ, and 5 μΜ) in the absence or presence of 5 μΜ IBA. In the second experiment, the quinones p-benzoquinone; 1,4-napthoquinone; and 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone were tested in four concentrations (0 μΜ, 5 μΜ, 50 μΜ, and 100 μΜ) in the presence of 5 μΜ IBA. An application of 5 μΜ of 5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone in the auxin-free medium increased rooting potential almost 1.7 times. Rooting percentage was also enhanced up to 4.2 times by dopamine; chlorogenic acid; 5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone; p-benzoquinone; and 1,4 napthoquinone in the presence of IBA. The present results indicate a possible promotive role of quinones and dopamine during in vitro rooting, at least for Prunus species, and their potential use as rooting cofactors. Moreover, a possible mode of action of the compounds studied related to IAA-oxidase is discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Micropropagation Research: Current Applications, Prospects, and Challenges)

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Open AccessArticle

Ex Vitro Simultaneous Acclimatization and Rooting of In Vitro Propagated Tamarillo Plants (Solanum betaceum Cav.): Effect of the Substrate and Mineral Nutrition

Madalena Salgado Pirata

Sandra Correia

and

Jorge Canhoto

Agronomy 2022, 12(5), 1082; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12051082 - 29 Apr 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1032

Abstract

Plants propagated by seed do not ensure genetic uniformity and are sometimes infected with diseases. In Vitro micropropagation techniques are an alternative method to traditional cloning approaches for producing true-to-type and pathogen-free plants. However, due to the particularities of the in vitro environment, these plants face many challenges, often critical to their survival, to adapt to ex vitro conditions. In this context, four substrates and two types of mineral nutrition (quick-release (QRF) and controlled-release (CRF) fertilizers), as well as their absence were evaluated in the process of acclimatization of Solanum betaceum plants. Stomatal conductance (g_s), chlorophyll content index (CCI), and dry biomass of roots, shoots, and entire plants were the parameters analyzed during the acclimatization. The best crop performance (g_s, CCI, and dry biomass) were observed in substrates consisting of vermiculite plus the application of mineral nutrients through a CRF, proving that mineral nutrition has the greatest positive impact on the acclimatization process. In these conditions, plants were obtained with a total dry biomass being significantly higher (515.0 mg (QRF) and 635.9 mg (CRF) when compared to the total dry biomass of untreated plants (119.9 mg). The best conditions for this first experiment were replicated in a second test in order to assess the best fertilizer amount suited for plantlet growth. In this case, the best results were obtained with 0.4 g of CRF, in which plants showed a dry biomass of roots (542.7 mg) and a total dry biomass (594.5 mg), which was significantly higher than in the control (183.2 mg and 165.9 mg, respectively) or with other concentrations of CRF (0.8 and 1.6 g). A similar trend was found concerning the CCI (5.3) and g_s (72.5 mmol m⁻² s⁻¹) in which 0.4 g CRF gave also the best results when compared with the control (without CRF) or with 0.8 g (4.7 and 56.2 mmol m⁻² s⁻¹) and 1.6 g (4.7 and 52.2 mmol m⁻² s⁻¹) treatments. In general, it was found that tamarillo plantlets acclimatized to 0.4 g of CRF had a faster initial growth and better performance (CCI and g_s), with plants ready to go to the greenhouse/field more quickly, thus reducing the time to obtain suitable plants for the market and shortening the production cycle. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Micropropagation Research: Current Applications, Prospects, and Challenges)

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Open AccessArticle

Ex Vitro Rooting and Simultaneous Micrografting of the Walnut Hybrid Rootstock ‘Paradox’ (Juglans hindsi × Juglans regia) cl. ‘Vlach’

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Agronomy 2022, 12(3), 595; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12030595 - 27 Feb 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1814

Abstract

In vitro micropropagation is already a current multiplication tool for walnut self-rooted cultivars and rootstocks, but walnut grafting is still performed in the field or in greenhouses, mainly using seedlings as rootstocks. The present work describes a new approach to obtain clonal walnut-grafted plants, involving in vitro shoot production of ‘Paradox’ (Juglans hindsi × Juglans regia) cl. ’Vlach’, to be used as rootstock, and J. regia cv. ‘Chandler’, to be used as scion. After completing the in vitro multiplication phase and a seven-day root induction treatment, ‘Vlach’ explants are transferred to ex vitro conditions for root expression while being simultaneously grafted using the in vitro produced ‘Chandler’ scions. The importance of the presence of leaves on both the scion and the rootstock for the success rate of the technique was evaluated. Under optimal conditions, average success rates of 82% for rootstock rooting, 72% for micrografting survival, and 84% for grafted plant acclimatization were achieved. This rooting/grafting combination technique seems able to compete with the traditional techniques of nursery grafting, allowing obtaining high-quality walnut-grafted plants independently of the external weather conditions in a significantly shorter time. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Micropropagation Research: Current Applications, Prospects, and Challenges)

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Review

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Open AccessReview

Micropropagation of Duboisia Species: A Review on Current Status

Yuxin Xue

Jayeni Chathurika Amarathunga Hiti-Bandaralage

and

Neena Mitter

Agronomy 2023, 13(3), 797; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13030797 - 09 Mar 2023

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Abstract

Duboisia is an Australian native woody species of the Solanaceae family, a crucial source of alkaloids, and is naturally extracted for pharmaceuticals. The alkaloid content of the four naturally occurring species of Duboisia, i.e., Duboisia myoporoides R. Br., Duboisia leichhardtii F. Muell., Duboisia hopwoodii F. Muell. and Duboisia arenitensis, is not conducive for large-scale commercial extraction. High-value hybrids between D. myoporoides R. Br. and D. leichhardtii F. Muell. have become the commercial crop for the industry. Propagation of these hybrids is key for progression of this industry, especially for the establishment and expansion of plantations and to replenish old plantations. Commercial propagation of Duboisia completely depends on cutting propagation to ensure true-to-type propagules. Cutting propagation of this species is associated with several challenges and has been a hurdle for industry expansion for many years. Micropropagation can be an efficient and sustainable alternative for Duboisia clonal propagation and is a faster and cleaner propagation avenue for elite propagules. This review compiles the research attempts made in the space of Duboisia micropropagation and provides an update on recent advancements to understand the technical capacity, progress and challenges towards a commercial micropropagation platform. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Micropropagation Research: Current Applications, Prospects, and Challenges)

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