Callus was obtained from leaf explants of Cephaelis ipecacuanha on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l Kin, 4.0 mg/l 2,4-D and 3% (w/v) sucrose [Murashige, T., Skoog, F., 1962. Plant Physiol. 15, 437±497]. Plantlet regeneration through somatic embryogenesis was achieved on MS medium containing 2.5 mg/l Kin, 1.0 mg/l 2,4-D and 3% (w/v) sucrose. Maturation and germina...

Background Brazilian pine (Araucaria angustifolia (Bert) O. Ktze) is the only native conifer species with economic importance in Brazil. Recently, due to intensive exploitation Brazilian pine was included in the official list of endangered Brazilian plants. Biotechnology tools, like somatic embryogenesis (SE), may become a potentially useful tool for mass clonal propagation and ex situ conserva...

We have cloned a SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS RECEPTOR KINASE (SERK) gene from Medicago truncatula (MtSERK1) and examined its expression in culture using real time PCR. In the presence of the auxin 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) alone, root differentiation occurs from the proliferating calli in both the cultured highly embryogenic seed line (2HA) and a low to nonembryogenic seed line (M. truncatula cv...

Programmed cell death (PCD) in multicellular organisms is a vital process in growth, development, and stress responses that contributes to the formation of tissues and organs. Although numerous studies have defined the molecular participants in apoptotic and PCD cascades, successful identification of early master regulators that target specific cells to live or die is limited. Using Zea mays so...

The genetic basis of stem cell specification in somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis is still obscure. SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE (SERK) genes are involved in embryogenesis and organogenesis in numerous species. In vitro culture of Cyclamen persicum immature ovules provides a system for investigating stem cell formation and maintenance, because lines forming either organs or ...

Cassava mosaic disease (CMD) and cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) are the two most important viral diseases affecting cassava production in Africa. Three sources of resistance are employed to combat CMD: polygenic recessive resistance, termed CMD1, the dominant monogenic type, named CMD2, and the recently characterized CMD3. The farmer-preferred cultivar TME 204 carries inherent resistance t...

Somatic embryogenesis has been shown to be an efficient tool for studying processes based on cell growth and development. The fine regulation of the cell cycle is essential for proper embryo formation during the process of somatic embryogenesis. The aims of the present work were to identify and perform a structural and functional characterization of Mps1 and to analyze the effects of the inhibi...

Plant alternative oxidase (AOX) is a mitochondrial inner membrane enzyme involved in alternative respiration. The critical importance of the enzyme during acclimation upon stress of plant cells is not fully understood and is still an issue of intensive research and discussion. Recently, a role of AOX was suggested for the ability of plant cells to change easily its fate upon stress. In order to...

In vitro propagation of Tilia platyphyllos Scop. has been achieved by axillary shoot proliferation and somatic embryogenesis. The influence of tree age, explant source, genotype, and phytohormones on micropropagation of juvenile and mature trees of Tilia platyphyllos has been investigated. Nodal segments and shoot tips were used as initial explants for axillary shoot proliferation. Low concentr...