Somatic Embryogenesis In Rosa Chinensis CV. ‘Parson’s Pink China’

This study investigated the effects of explant type, plant growth regulator concentration, callis status, medium conversion time, and medium tilt on the growth of rose somatic embryos. The results showed that Rosa chinensis cv. ‘Parson’s Pink China’ leaves could induce normal embryogenic calli but petioles could not. When the 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid concentration was 3.0 mg/L, the callis induction rate was the highest in the embryo proliferation medium (EP medium) supplemented with 0.5mg/L kinetin, and white and reddish-brown translucent calli were the main type of embryogenic calli induced. As the culture time in EP medium was extended, the relative induction rate for secondary embryos and multicotyledon secondary embryos gradually increased when transferred to embryo maturation medium (EM medium), but the induction rate for somatic embryos decreased. Placing the EM medium at an angle of 45° made the somatic embryos germinate faster and the germination rate was also higher. The germination buds produced by the somatic embryos with two cotyledons showed the fastest germination and greatest survival rates. The results of this experiment will help improve somatic embryo regeneration rates and explore new ways of regeneration, and lays the foundation for further optimization of the somatic embryo genetic transformation system.

Characterization of wall-associated kinase/wall-associated kinase-like (WAK/WAKL) family in rose (Rosa chinensis) reveals the role of RcWAK4 in Botrytis resistance

Background Wall-associated kinase (WAK)/WAK-like (WAKL) is one of the subfamily of receptor like kinases (RLK). Although previous studies reported that WAK/WAKL played an important role in plant cell elongation, response to biotic and abiotic stresses, there are no systematic studies on RcWAK/RcWAKL in rose. Results In this study, we identified a total of 68 RcWAK/RcWAKL gene family members within rose (Rosa chinensis) genome. The RcWAKs contained the extracellular galacturonan-binding domain and calcium-binding epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domain, as well as an intracellular kinase domains. The RcWAKLs are missing either calcium-binding EGF-like domain or the galacturonan-binding domain in their extracellular region. The phylogenetic analysis showed the RcWAK/RcWAKL gene family has been divided into five groups, and these RcWAK/RcWAKL genes were unevenly distributed on the 7 chromosomes of rose. 12 of RcWAK/RcWAKL genes were significantly up-regulated by Botrytis cinerea-inoculated rose petals, where RcWAK4 was the most strongly expressed. Virus induced gene silencing of RcWAK4 increased the rose petal sensitivity to B. cinerea. The results indicated RcWAK4 is involved in the resistance of rose petal against B. cinerea. Conclusion Our study provides useful information to further investigate the function of the RcWAK/RcWAKL gene family and breeding research for resistance to B. cinerea in rose.

Description of five new species of Amblyseiinae (Acari: Phytoseiidae) associated with medicinal plants from the Northern Himalayan Zone of West Bengal, India

Five new species of phytoseiid mites in the subfamily Amblyseiinae are described from specimens collected from princess flower (Tibouchina urvilleana Cogn.: Melastomataceae), datura (Datura metel L.: Solanaceae), rose (Rosa chinensis Jacq.: Rosaceae), and cinchona (Cinchona officinalis L.: Rubiaceae) from the northern hill zone of West Bengal in the Central Himalayan Mountain region, namely Amblyseiulella tibouchina sp. nov., Amblyseius rishyapensis sp. nov., Okiseius ramdhuracus sp. nov., Okiseius roseus sp. nov., and Typhlodromips cinchonai sp. nov.