Effect of agar content in medium on hypocotyl callus induction
Hypocotyls were harvested from 20 d old sterile I. laevigata seedlings and used as explants to induce calli in media with different agar concentrations. The callus induction rate, endogenous bacterial contamination rate, and callus appearance were recorded after 30 d (Table 1). The medium callus induction rate with 6 and 7 g L− 1 agar was significantly greater than that of other treatments (4 and 10 g L− 1). The calli induced on the 4 g L− 1 agar medium were severely contaminated with endophytes (66.67 ± 8.82%), while the contamination rate for other medium formulations were significantly less and not significantly different from each other.
The agar concentration also affected the appearance and moisture levels of the calli (Table 1). As the agar content increased from 4 to 10 g L− 1, the calli transformed from soggy/mushy to extremely dry. When the agar content was low (4 g L− 1), the calli were soggy and became mushy. At 6 g L− 1, the calli contained less moisture, but remained soggy. The calli appeared ideal, dry and granular, at 7 g L− 1, which also produced a high, 56.67%, induction rate and lower (20%) contamination rate. In contrast, the 10 g L− 1 agar produced calli that were extremely dry with a low induction rate (23.33%). As a result, it was determined that adding 7 g L− 1 agar to the medium produced the most suitable callus formations for I. laevigata hypocotyl explants.
Table 1
Effect of different agar content on I. laevigata hypocotyl callus induction
Agar content (g L-1) | Induction rate (%) | Contamination rate (%) | Callus appearance |
4 | 33.33 ± 3.33 b | 66.67 ± 8.82 a | severely contaminated and mushy |
6 | 53.33 ± 3.33 a | 23.33 ± 3.33 b | soggy |
7 | 56.67 ± 6.67 a | 20.00 ± 5.77 b | dry and granular |
10 | 23.33 ± 8.82 b | 16.67 ± 6.67 b | extremely dry |
Each value represents the mean ± standard error (SE) of three independent experiments, each of which includes 10 hypocotyl explants. Different lowercase letters in the same column indicate significant differences at P ≤ 0.05 as determined by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Duncan's post-test.
Effects of different PGRs concentrations on I. laevigata hypocotyl callus induction
Sterile I. laevigata seedling hypocotyls (20 d old) were used as explants and placed flat on medium with different hormone concentrations to induce callus development. The callus induction rate, endogenous bacterial contamination rate, and callus appearance were recorded after 45 d (Table 2; Fig. 1A). Calli were formed at the incision at the top and bottom of the hypocotyl as well as at the inevitable incisions on the hypocotyl during the experimental operation (Fig. 1B). Treatment 2’s callus induction rate was 75%, and the induced calli were in good condition (Table 2). Therefore, the optimal medium for I. laevigata hypocotyl callus induction was 6-BA 0.5 mg L− 1 + 2,4-D 1.0 mg L− 1 + NAA 0.4 mg L− 1 + MS + sucrose 30 g L− 1 + agar 7 g L− 1.
Table 2
Effects of different PGRs concentrations on hypocotyl induced calli and range analysis
Treatment | Orthogonal array | PGRs (mg L-1) | Induction rate (%) | Contamination rate (%) | Callus appearance |
A | B | C | 6-BA | 2,4-D | NAA |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 55.00 ± 2.24 bc | 0 | yellow, dry, and granular |
2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 75.00 ± 2.24 a | 0 | yellow, dry, and granular |
3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 43.33 ± 3.33 c | 0 | yellow, dry, and granular |
4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 48.33 ± 4.01 c | 0 | yellow, dry, and granular |
5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 61.67 ± 1.67 b | 0 | yellow, dry, and lumpy |
6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 51.67 ± 1.67 bc | 0 | yellow, dry, and lumpy |
7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 23.33 ± 6.67 d | 0 | yellow, dry, and granular |
8 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 28.33 ± 5.43 d | 0 | yellow, dry, and granular |
9 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 21.67 ± 6.54 d | 0 | yellow, dry, and granular |
K1 | - | - | - | 57.78 | 42.22 | 45 | - | - | - |
K2 | - | - | - | 53.89 | 55.00 | 48.33 | - | - | - |
K3 | - | - | - | 24.44 | 38.89 | 42.78 | - | - | - |
R | - | - | - | 33.34 | 16.11 | 5.55 | - | - | - |
Each value represents the mean ± SE of three independent experiments, each of which includes 20 hypocotyl explants. Different lowercase letters in the same column indicate significant differences at P ≤ 0.05 as determined by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Duncan's post-test. Kx means sum of induction rate of each factor at x level; R means measures of variation, R = Kmax-Kmin.
As the 6-BA concentration increased from 0.5 mg L− 1 to 2.0 mg L− 1, the mean induction rate decreased (Table 2; Fig. 2). As the 2,4-D concentration increased from 0.5 mg L− 1 to 1.5 mg L− 1 the mean value of the induction rate first significantly increased and then decreased. The impact of NAA concentration followed the same general trend as 2,4-D, which initially increased and then decreased as NAA concentration increased, although the differences were not significant (Fig. 2). Therefore, it was determined that the most suitable phytohormone combination was 6-BA 0.5 mg L− 1 + 2,4-D 1.0 mg L− 1 + NAA 0.4 mg L− 1, which produced a 75% callus induction rate (Table 2). Furthermore, according to the range analysis (Table 2), the influence of the PGRs on hypocotyl callus induction are ranked as 6-BA > 2,4-D > NAA. The analysis of variance (Table 3) indicated that 6-BAP was the most significant factor involved in the hypocotyl induction rate (P < 0.01), while 2,4-D affected the induction rate to a lesser extent (P < 0.05), and NAA had relatively little influence (P > 0.05).
Table 3
Variance analysis of PGRs influence on the I. laevigata hypocotyl callus induction rate
Factor | Sum of squares | df | Mean square | F | P-value |
6-BA | 11959.259 | 2 | 5979.630 | 35.529 | 0.000 |
2,4-D | 2603.704 | 2 | 1301.852 | 3.701 | 0.032 |
NAA | 281.481 | 2 | 140.741 | 0.354 | 0.703 |
Effects of different PGRs concentrations onI. laevigataseedling root callus induction.
To determine the impact of 3 phytohormones on I. laevigata root callus induction, 2 types of I. laevigata root explants were investigated. One set of root explants had no fibrous roots, while the second root explants had the fibrous roots removed. Root explant segments without fibrous roots did not produce any calli, independent of the phytohormone concentration in the growth medium. Therefore, this manuscript will only discuss the callus induction rate from root explants which the fibrous roots were originally attached but removed (Fig. 3; Table 4).
Explant root segments which originally had fibrous roots were collected from sterile I. laevigata seedlings (50 d old) and placed in media containing 3 different phytohormones (6-BA, 2,4-D, and NAA). Table 4 shows the callus induction rate and callus appearances resulting from the various PGR concentrations.
When the 6-BA and NAA concentrations were held constant, the root callus induction rate increased as the 2,4-D concentration increased, resulting in a single peak curve (Table 4; Fig. 3). A single peak curve was also produced when the 6-BA and 2,4-D concentrations were held constant and the NAA concentration increased (Table 4; Fig. 3). The greatest callus induction rates for root explants were produced when the media contained 2,4-D at 0.5 mg L− 1 and NAA at 0.4 mg L− 1 with either 0.5 or 2.0 mg L− 1 6-BA (Table 4; Fig. 3). When the media did not contain 6-BA (treatment 1, 0 mg L− 1) there was no (0%) callus induction for the root explants (Table 4). When either 2,4-D or NAA were absent from the media (treatment 5 and 8), the callus induction rates were very low, 6.67% and 3.33%, respectively. As a result, it is clear that although 6-BA had the most significant impact on root callus induction rates, the presence of low rates of 2,4-D (0.5 mg L− 1) and NAA (0.4 mg L− 1) were essential for maximizing callus induction (Table 4). Therefore, to produce maximum callus induction rates with I. laevigata root explants, the medium must contain the 3 PGRs (6-BA, 2,4-D, and NAA) rather than just 2 PGRs. Although callus induction rates for treatment 2 (6-BA 0.5 mg L− 1 + 2,4-D 0.5 mg L− 1 + NAA 0.4 mg L− 1) and treatment 3 (6-BA 2.0 mg L− 1 + 2,4-D 0.5 mg L− 1 + NAA 0.4 mg L− 1) were not significantly different, 73.33% and 66.67%, respectively, treatment 2 required less 6-BA and produced numerically greater callus inductions at 45 d (Table 4). As a result, the author’s recommend the following medium formulation for I. laevigata root callus induction: 6-BA 0.5 mg L− 1 + 2,4-D 0.5 mg L− 1 + NAA 0.4 mg L− 1 + MS + sucrose 30 g L− 1 + agar 7 g L− 1.
Table 4
Effects of different PGRs concentrations on I. laevigata root induced callus formation
Treatment | 6-BA (mg L-1) | 2,4-D (mg L-1) | NAA (mg L-1) | Induction rate (%) | Callus appearance |
1 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.00 ± 0.00 d | No callus |
2 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 73.33 ± 9.89 a | yellow, small |
3 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 66.67 ± 12.29 a | yellow, small |
4 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 26.67 ± 4.22 bc | yellow, small |
5 | 0.5 | 0 | 0.4 | 6.67 ± 4.22 d | yellow, small |
6 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 36.67 ± 3.33 b | yellow, small |
7 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 16.67 ± 3.33 cd | yellow, small |
8 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 3.33 ± 3.33 d | yellow, small |
9 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 30.00 ± 4.47 bc | yellow, small |
10 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 13.33 ± 4.21 cd | yellow, small |
Each value represents the mean ± SE of three independent experiments, each of which included 20 explants. Different lowercase letters in the same column indicated the significant difference at P ≤ 0.05 as determined by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Duncan's post-test.
Effects of different PGRs and concentrations on root callus multiplication
The callus was inserted into the multiplication medium of different PGRs concentrations for 45 d (Table 5; Fig. 4).
Interestingly, there were no significant differences in the endophyte contamination rates among the experimental groups with different PGR content. All PGR combinations resulted in multiplication rates equal to or greater than 21.67%, with the greatest numerical value of 73.33%. The multiplication rates were inversely proportional to the NAA concentrations. As 6-BA and 2,4-D were held constant at 0.5 mg L− 1 and the NAA concentration increased from 0.2 to 0,.6 mg L− 1, the multiplication rate decreased from 73.33–28.33%. At the same NAA concentration (0.4 mg L− 1), the multiplication rate was greater at the lowest (0.5 mg L− 1) 6-BA and 2,4-D concentrations. The two highest multiplication rates were at the two lowest PGR concentrations, treatment 1 and 2. As a result, it was decided that treatment 1 (6-BA 0.5 mg L− 1 + 2,4-D 0.5 mg L− 1+ NAA 0.2 mg L− 1 + MS + sucrose 30 g L− 1 + agar 8 g L− 1), with a multiplication rate of 73.33%, was the most suitable medium formula for root callus multiplication.
Table 5
Effects of different PGRs combinations on root callus multiplication
Treatment | 6-BA (mg L-1) | 2,4-D (mg L-1) | NAA (mg L-1) | Multiplication rate (%) | Contamination rate (%) | Callus appearance |
1 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 73.33 ± 2.11 a | 33.33 ± 14.53 a | yellow, dry, and granular |
2 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 61.67 ± 1.67 b | 26.67 ± 3.33 a | yellow, dry, and granular |
3 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 28.33 ± 3.07 de | 28.33 ± 4.77 a | yellow, dry, and granular |
4 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 21.67 ± 1.67 e | 26.67 ± 4.22 a | yellow, dry, and granular |
5 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 38.33 ± 3.07 cd | 28.33 ± 3.07 a | green spots on the surface, showing a trend of differentiation |
6 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 46.67 ± 6.67 c | 31.67 ± 4.77a | yellow, dry, and granular |
Each value represents the mean ± SE of three independent experiments, each of which includes 20 root explants. Different lowercase letters in the same column indicated the significant difference at P ≤ 0.05 as determined by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Duncan's post-test.
Effects of different PGRs and concentrations on hypocotyl and root callus differentiation
Three media formulations were evaluated to determine their impact on hypocotyl callus differentiation (Table 6). The greatest differentiation rate (39.72%) was achieved after 60 d with a medium containing IBA 0.5 mg L− 1 + 6-BA 1.5 mg L− 1 + NAA 1.0 mg L− 1 + MS + sucrose 30 g L− 1 + agar 8 g L− 1 (Table 6). These results confirm that IBA is significantly involved in hypocotyl callus differentiation. No adventitious shoots were produced without adding IBA to the media and the resulting shoots were green and strong when 0.5 mgL− 1 IBA was added to the media.
Table 6
Effects of different PGR combinations on differentiation of hypocotyl induced calli.
Treatment | IBA (mg L-1) | 6-BA (mg L-1) | NAA (mg L-1) | Differentiation rate (%) | Adventitious shoot appearance |
1 | 0 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 00.00 ± 0.00 c | Callus Browning |
2 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 16.67 ± 8.33 b | green, strong |
3 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 39.72 ± 15.28 a | green, strong |
Each value represents the mean ± SE of three independent experiments, each of which includes 20 hypocotyl explants. Different lowercase letters in the same column indicated the significant difference at P ≤ 0.05 as determined by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Duncan's post-test.
Root induced calli were placed into the differentiation media, which included various concentrations of 6-BA, NAA and KT (kinetin), and were cultured for 60 d (Table 7). The maximum differentiation rate for root induced calli was 49.52%, treatment 7, 6-BA 2.0 mg L− 1 + NAA 0.4 mg L− 1 + KT 1.0 mg L− 1 + MS + sucrose 30 g L− 1 + agar 8 g L− 1. The calli produced were green with strong adventitious shoots.
Table 7
Effects of different PGRs combinations on differentiation of root induced calli and range analysis
Treatment | Orthogonal array | PGRs (mg L-1) | Differentiation rate (%) | Adventitious shoot appearance |
A | B | C | 6-BA | NAA | KT |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0 | 7.50 ± 4.79 c | greenish yellow, thin |
2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 15.72 ± 6.12 bc | greenish yellow, thin |
3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 23.33 ± 3.33 bc | deep green, strong |
4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 16.67 ± 8.03 bc | green, strong |
5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 26.67 ± 4.22 bc | green, strong |
6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0 | 13.33 ± 4.22 bc | green, strong |
7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 49.52 ± 11.13 a | deep green, strong |
8 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0 | 26.67 ± 4.22 bc | deep green, strong |
9 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 30.00 ± 4.47 b | green, thin |
K1 | - | - | - | 15.52 | 24.56 | 15.83 | - | - |
K2 | - | - | - | 18.89 | 23.02 | 20.80 | - | - |
K3 | - | - | - | 35.40 | 22.22 | 33.17 | - | - |
R | - | - | - | 19.88 | 2.34 | 17.34 | - | - |
Each value represents the mean ± SE of three independent experiments, each of which includes 20 root explants. Different lowercase letters in the same column indicated the significant difference at P ≤ 0.05 as determined by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Duncan's post-test. 3 Kx means sum of induction rate of each factor at x level; 4 R means measures of variation, R = Kmax-Kmin.
Within a certain concentration range, the induction rate was directly proportional to the 6-BA and KT concentrations, and inversely proportional to the concentration of NAA (Fig. 5). According to the range analysis (Table 7), the influence of each factor was ranked as 6-BA > KT > NAA. The analysis of variance indicated that both 6-BA and KT had a significant impact on the differentiation rate (P < 0.01), while NAA had relatively little influence (P > 0.05) (Table 8). Therefore, future research should investigate the use only the two PGRs, 6-BA and KT, for I. laevigata root differentiation medium.
Table 8
Variance analysis of PGRs influence on the differentiation rate of root induced calli
Factor | Sum of squares | df | Mean square | F | P-value |
6-BA | 4074.713 | 2 | 2037.357 | 7.900 | 0.001 |
NAA | 51.030 | 2 | 25.515 | 0.076 | 0.927 |
KT | 2871.596 | 2 | 1435.798 | 5.101 | 0.010 |
The impact of three antibiotics on the control of endophytes in calli
During the experiment, it was found that the endophytes severely inhibited the induction and multiplication of calli. Therefore, we investigated the impact of adding different combinations of penicillin G (50, 100, 200, 300 mg L− 1), carbenicillin disodium (50, 100, 300, 500 mg L− 1) and cefotaxime sodium (50, 100, 300, 500 mg L− 1) to media to control endophytes.Each antibiotic had a positive impact on endophytic bacteria control (Fig. 6). The penicillin G bacteriostatic rate was significantly greater than the other two antibiotics at all concentration levels (Fig. 6). The inhibition rate increased gradually as the penicillin G concentration increased and reached the greatest inhibition (54.29%) at the 300 mg L− 1 concentration (Fig. 6A).
Besides controlling the endophytes, antibiotics also have the potential to negatively impact plant materials and cause callus browning and death. Each of the three antibiotics resulted in a varying degrees of browning (Fig. 6B). Overall, penicillin G produced the least browning compared to other two antibiotics, carbenicillin disodium and cefotaxime sodium. The lowest two penicillin G concentrations, 50 and 100 mg L− 1, produced the lowest browning rates. As the penicillin G concentration increased from 100 to 300 mg L− 1, the browning rate significantly increased (Fig. 6B). Therefore, penicillin G was selected as the superior antibiotic to both control endophytes and limit callus browning (Fig. 6A; 6B). The addition of penicillin G at 100 mg L− 1 provided the best balance between inhibiting endophytes and limiting browning (Fig. 6A; 6B; 6C).