Evaluation of somatic embryo production during embryogenic tissue proliferation stage using morphology, maternal genotype, proliferation rate and tissue age of Pinus thunbergii Parl

To determine the optimal embryogenic capacity (somatic embryo production) of the selected elite nematode-resistant genotypes of Pinus thunbergii, variables such as embryogenic tissue (ET) morphology, maternal genotype, proliferation rate and tissue age were analyzed. ET morphology and histological evaluation of the proliferation stage showed a decrease in filamentous clump and protuberant surfaces and a decline in the acetocarmine-staining area, which indicates a decrease in somatic embryo production (SEP). Variations in cell physiology during the proliferation stage showed that SEP was positively correlated with soluble sugars and proteins, but negatively correlated with starch, peroxidase, and superoxidase. In addition, SEP was significantly (p < 0.001) affected by maternal genotype, tissue age and proliferation rate. Moreover, SEP was positively correlated with proliferation rate (r = 0.98, p < 0.001), but negatively correlated with tissue age (r = − 0.95, p < 0.001). In general, the results suggest that SEP could be assessed in ET proliferation stages by the apparent cell morphology, histology, proliferation rate and tissue age, which provides novel insights for evaluating the ET maturation capacity (number of somatic embryos) during the proliferation stage of P. thunbergii somatic embryogenesis.

Root Rot Resistance Locus PaLAR3 Is Delivered by Somatic Embryogenesis (SE) Pipeline in Norway Spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.)

Research Highlights: The Norway spruce somatic embryogenesis (SE) pipeline is suitable for multiplication of material with root rot resistance traits. Background and Objectives: Heterobasidion root rot is the economically most severe forest pathogen in Europe, reducing the benefit of planting elite forest material. In this study, the SE-propagation ability of elite Norway spruce material carrying root rot resistance traits was studied. Materials and Methods: We analyzed the presence of the root rot resistance locus PaLAR3B among 80 Finnish progeny-tested Norway spruce plus-trees used for SE-plant production as well as in 241 SE lines (genotypes) derived from them. Seven full-sib families with lines having either AA, AB, or BB genotype for PaLAR3 locus were further studied for their SE-plant propagation ability. Results: The results indicate that 47.5% of the studied elite trees carry the PaLAR3B allele (45% are heterozygous and 2.5% homozygous). The resistance allele was present among the SE lines as expected based on Mendelian segregation and did not interfere with somatic embryo production capacity. All embryos from PaLAR3 genotypes germinated well and emblings were viable in the end of first growing season. However, in three families, PaLAR3B homo- or heterozygotes had 23.2% to 32.1% lower viability compared to their respective hetero- or PaLAR3A homozygotes. Conclusions: There is no trade-off between root rot resistance locus PaLAR3B and somatic embryo production ability, but the allele may interfere with Norway spruce embling establishment.

Plant regeneration by somatic embryogenesis in Pinus thunbergii resistant to the pine wood nematode

Pine wilt disease (PWD) is a severe threat to pine forests in East Asia. Screening and breeding of resistant varieties is a very effective way to prevent and control PWD; however, no reliable somatic embryogenesis system has yet been developed for the elite nematode-resistant Pinus thunbergii Parl. line. In this study, we studied the plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis of nematode-resistant P. thunbergii. Initiation of embryogenic tissue was significantly affected by seed family (p = 0.017), immature zygotic embryo stage (p = 0.032), and initiation medium (p = 0.004). Seed family 37 was the most favorable female parent for initiation of P. thunbergii. Furthermore, the initiation rate increased from the pre-embryonic stage to the cleavage polyembryonic stage. The optimal medium was I2, containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (9 μmol·L−1) and 6-benzyladenine (4.4 μmol·L−1). A statistically significant interaction between cell line and subculture time (24 months) was observed in the influence on proliferation rate, somatic embryo production, and percentage germination (p < 0.001). In this study, the highest somatic embryo production was achieved using cell line 37-1 (1983 somatic embryos per gram fresh mass), with approximately 83.5% of somatic embryos germinating after transferring to germination medium, of which 77.6% converted into plantlets.