Flow cytometric analyses in embryogenic and non-embryogenic callus lines of Cyclamen persicum mill.

Relation between ploidy level and competence for somatic embryogenesis

authored by

T. Winkelmann, R. S. Sangwan, H. G. Schwenkel

Abstract

Embryogenic and non-embryogenic callus lines derived from the same diploid Cyclamen persicum genotype ('Purple Flamed') were analyzed by flow cytometry and compared to the initial plant material. The DNA content of the diploid plant in the greenhouse was 1.12 pg DNA/2C as estimated in relation to the internal standards tomato nuclei and chicken erythrocytes. In both callus lines the majority of cells contained the same amount of DNA as the initial plant, indicating that no polyploidization has taken place after 5 years of culture on medium containing 2.0 mg/l 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 0.8 mg/l 6-(γ-γ-dimethylallylamino)purine(zip). Thus, our data suggest that in Cyclamen callus lines there was no strict correlation between the ploidy level and the ability to produce somatic embryos. Furthermore, following the proportion of cells in the three phases of the cell cycle (G0/GI, S, G2/M) during one subculture period of 4 weeks revealed high division activity within the first 2 weeks for both callus lines cultured on the 2,4-D-containing medium. However, when transferred to hormone-free medium, the division activity of the embryogenic cell line decreased markedly, corresponding to the differentiation of somatic embryos. In contrast, for the non-embryogenic callus an increase in cells in the G2/M phase was observed.

Organisation(s)

Research section Reproduction and Development
Institute of Horticultural Production Systems

External Organisation(s)

Universite de Picardie Jules Verne

Type

Article

Journal

Plant cell reports

Volume

17

Pages

400-404

No. of pages

5

ISSN

0721-7714

Publication date

03.1998

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Agronomy and Crop Science, Plant Science

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1007/s002990050414 (Access: Closed)