Structural features of explant cells in vivo and morphogenic callus formation in vitro (Review).
Morphogenic callus is an integrated system that is formed in vitro from an explant both exogenously (as a result of proliferation of surface cells of various tissues) and endogenously (in the depth of these tissues), initially consisting of homogeneous meristematic cells, which are gradually transformed into groups of heterogeneous morphogenetically competent cells. Under optimal conditions of further in vitro cultivation the potencies of such cells are realized by various pathways of morphogenesis, including the formation of full-fledged regenerated plants, which is the goal of a number of biotechnologies. The advantage of using morphogenic calli in biotechnological research, in addition to a number of undoubted methodological usability, is the similarity of morphogenetic processes in plants in vivo and in cultured calli in vitro, which should be regarded as the manifestation of the universality of morphogenesis in various plant reproduction systems. The formation of morphogenic calli from explants in in vitro conditions is determined by a complex of interrelated endogenous and exogenous factors. In general, endogenous factors are regarded as the presence in explants in vivo of target cells capable of perceiving the inducer (so-called initial callus cells), while exogenous (usually stressful) factors – as an inducer of the process of callus formation in vitro. The review article uses the example of representatives of various plant families to analyze the literature and own data on the identification and characterization of structural features of initial morphogenic callus cells in explants in vivo. The available literature provides answers to the fundamental questions: what are the initial cells of callus (having the properties of meristematicity, pluri- and totipopotency and, possibly, stemness) and how do they structurally differ from other explant cells; whether the initial cells have the competence to callus formation under in vivo conditions or whether the conditions of preliminary stress conditions in situ and/or the initial stages of in vitro culture induce the acquisition of these cells the ability to reprogramming. The positive role of the positional arrangement of initial callus cells in the explant cell and tissue system is suggested.