Plantlets Regeneration via Somatic Embryogenesis from the Nucellus Tissues of Kinnow Mandarin (<i>Citrus reticulata</i> L.)

Studies were initiated to explore the role of nucellus tissues and growth regulators in plantlets regeneration via somatic embryogenesis of Kinnow mandarin [ Citrus reticulata L. (Blanco)]. Nucellus tissues were cultured on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of auxins, cytokinins and malt extract for primary callus induction. The best response for primary callus induction (90%) was obtained when MS medium was supplemented with 5 mg/l 2,4-D and 500 mg/l malt extract. Best results for embryogenic callus induction (80%) were obtained in C ₈ medium. The induction of somatic embryos was highest when MS medium was supplemented with 1 mg/l BAP and maturation of somatic embryos occurred when MS medium was supplemented with 5 mg/l 2,4-D and 1 mg/l BAP. Maximum plantlets were regenerated (92%) from the somatic embryos on half strength MS medium with no hormones. The plantlets were successfully acclimatized in different potting mixtures and highest survival rate (100%) was achieved in potting mixture containing sand and peat moss (2:1).

• Tissue Culture
• MS Media
• Citrus
• Nucellus Tissue
• Callogenesis
• Somatic Embryos

1. Introduction

Citrus belongs to family Rutaceae having 150 genera and 15,000 species and it is distributed mostly in tropical and temperate region of the planet [1] . There are 11 genera and 27 species of the family in Pakistan. A number of major genera of family Rutaceae are Citrus, Murraya, Zanthoxylum and Ruta etc. [2] . Citrus origin is supposed to be southern slope of Himalayan region and north eastern area of China and adjacent India [3] . It has high dietary value and is a prosperous source of vitamin C in combination with macromolecules such as amino acids, organic acids and sugar as well as minerals comparable to magnesium and calcium in sufficient quantity [4] .

According to an estimate, Pakistan is the 1^st largest producer of Kinnow mandarin. In recent years, Pakistan’s average yield of Kinnow is about 9.2 tons per hectare which reflects poor production performance when we compared it with developed countries. This low yield is due to attacks of different types of pathogens that are viruses, bacteria and fungi etc.

The role of tissue culture in genetic engineering and biotechnology was first time exemplified by Kanta and Maheshwari in 1962. Gene transfer, selection and regeneration of transformants are nowadays employed by the plant tissue culture techniques [5] . According to Helal [6] , tissue culture can be employed as substitute to conservative methods in vitro propagation with the purpose of increasing the developmental rate of preferred genotypes and commercial micropropagation.

In Citrus, few studies have been carried out on somatic embryos formation from nucellus tissue derived callus. Somatic embryogenesis is the formation of zygotic embryo like structure from the somatic cells without gametic fusion [7] . Somatic embryogenesis is usually used in large scale production of plants and artificial seeds [8] . Somatic embryogenesis is an efficient method of plant regeneration allowing rapid production of large number of plants within short period. So far there is lit bit information which is available for somatic embryogenesis in Citrus reticulata, which is the most widely grown Citrus crop in Pakistan. In Citrus cultivars, the potential for embryogenic calluses was reported from various explants such as excised nucelli [9] , abortive ovules [10] , unfertilized ovules [11] , undeveloped ovules [12] , juice vesicles [13] , anthers [14] , styles and stigmas [15] as well as from root segments, cotyledons and epicotyls [16] .

Successful somatic embryogenesis from nucellus tissues of different Citrus cultivars was achieved by various researchers [17] - [19] .

The present investigation was undertaken to develop the in vitro suitable protocol for plantlets regeneration of Kinnow (Citrus reticulata L.) from nucellus tissues through somatic embryogenesis.

2. Materials and Methods

The present research work was carried out at Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory, Department of Botany, PMAS- Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan during the year 2014-15.

2.1. Source of Plant Material

Mature trees of Citrus reticulata from the Bhalwal region of district Sargodha were used as the source of plant material.

2.2. Preparation of Explants

Immature fruits (10 weeks after anthesis) were cleaned thoroughly with running tap water to remove all the remains of surface contaminants. Then they were surface sterilized in 70% ethanol for 5 minutes followed by immersion in 20% Chlorax solution also containing 1% sodium hypochlorite solution. Finally immature fruits were rinsed three times with autoclaved distilled water. For somatic embryo induction, immature seeds were separated under aseptic condition. Immature seeds were cut by scalpel and nucellus halves were separated. Then the nucellus halves were kept for 24 hours in an antioxidant solution containing 150 mg/l citric acid and 100 mg/l ascorbic acid. Thereafter, nucellus tissues were rinsed three times in sterile distilled water, then sterilized in 20% chlorax solution, containing 1% NaOCl and a drop of tween 20 for 15 minutes. The nucellus tissues were finally rinsed three times in double distilled water and cultured.

2.3. Media Preparation and Culture Conditions

All the in vitro work was carried out on MS medium (Murashige and Skoog, 1962). For the preparation of MS medium, exact quantities of all the components of particular medium were mixed. 30 g sucrose was added and final volume of the medium (1 L) was made by the addition of double distilled water. The pH of the medium was adjusted between 5.7 - 5.8 by adding drops of 1N HCl and 1N NaOH. Medium was solidified with 0.8% agar. The MS medium was heated on hot plate to melt the agar. Finally the medium was autoclaved at 15 psi for 15 minutes at 121˚C. The medium was then poured into petri plates as well as in test tubes in laminar hood. Cultures were then placed in growth chamber at 25˚C with a photoperiod of 16 hours light. Light intensity was maintained upto 2500 lux.

2.4. Callus Induction

For callus induction, Nucellus tissues were cultured on MS medium containing varying concentrations of different combinations of phytohormones and malt extract. Nucellus tissues were cultured in 16 varying concentrations of four different combinations (S1) = MS + 2,4-D + malt extract, (S2) = MS + 2,4-D + BAP, (S3) = MS + BAP + malt extract, (S4) = MS + BAP + NAA as shown in Table 1. The nucellus tissues were inoculated in the testing media in laminar air flow cabinet and wrapped with aluminum foil. The inoculated cultures were then placed in a growth chamber at 25˚C for four weeks.

2.5. Primary Callus Induction and Proliferation

The response for primary callus induction was observed in all the testing combinations and it was found that the percentage for primary callus induction vary in all the testing combinations. The primary calluses were then incubated on half strength MS medium in C₃ medium for S1 combination, C₈ medium for S2 combination, C₁₀ medium for S3 combination and C₁₃ medium for S4 combination for callus proliferation. The process of callus proliferation was continued for almost 12 weeks with sub culturing after every 4 weeks.

2.6. Embryogenic Callus Induction

Creamed colored compact calluses were divided and incubated on half strength MS medium (C₈ and C₁₀) for four weeks. Embryogenic calluses were obtained at the end of this period.

2.7. Somatic Embryo Induction and Maturation

The embryogenic calluses which were obtained previously from the nucellus tissues were cultured on MS medium containing BAP at 1 mg/l and 1.5 mg/l for somatic embryo induction. This step was continued for four weeks. Embryo maturation occurred on MS medium containing 5 mg/l 2,4-D and 1 mg/l BAP.

2.8. Separation of Somatic Embryos

Cultures having somatic embryos were shifted to MS liquid medium in jars inside laminar air flow cabinet and then the jars were placed on orbital shaker for shaking cultures. The cultures were shacked for 6 hours to completely separate the somatic embryos from each other.

2.9. Plantlets Regeneration

Isolated somatic embryos were cultured on half strength MS medium with no hormones. The MS medium was also fortified with BAP, BAP+ Kin in three concentrations each to find out the best medium for plantlets regeneration.

2.10. Acclimatization/Hardening off

The plantlets which have good root and shoot system were successfully acclimatized in different types of potting mixtures. Plantlets were removed from the culture jars and cleaned with sterile distilled water to remove all the remains of growth medium from the roots. The plantlets were then planted in plastic pots filled with different combinations (Sand, Sand + Peat moss (2:1), sand + soil + Peat moss (1:1:1) and sand+ soil + Compost (1:1:1) hardening mixtures. The plantlets were then covered with plastic sheets for 15 days and then cover was removed gradually. The acclimatization process was continued for almost 12 weeks.

2.11. Statistical Analysis

All the experiments were laid out in completely randomized design arrangements of treatments. All treatments were replicated three times with ten explants per treatments. To detect the significant difference between means, the collected data was subjected to analysis of variance. Statistical analysis was done using STATISTICS 8.1 and Microsoft Excel 2007 software.

3. Results and Discussions

It is obvious from Figure 1 that Kinnow mandarin can be in vitro propagated via somatic embryogenesis from the calluses obtained from the nucellus tissues. Table 1 shows that MS medium was supplemented with varying concentrations of four different combinations of phytohormones and malt extract for primary callus induction. Primary calluses were formed in all the tested combinations but percentages vary in different concentrations of each tested combination. As shown in Table 1 when MS medium was supplemented with different concentrations of 2,4-D along with constant concentration of malt extract, the rate of callus induction was increased with the increase in concentration of 2,4-D. The response for primary callus induction was 68% when supplemented with 2 mg/l 2,4-D and 500 mg/l malt extract. Table 1 further depicted that by increasing the concentration of 2,4-D with constant concentration of malt extract, the response for primary callus induction was increased. The effects of auxins on callus induction in citrus cultivars have already been reported by various researchers [20] [21] .

Figure 1

The time line of plantlet regeneration via somatic embryogenesis in Citrus reticulate cv. Kinnow; (a) Isolated Nucellus tissues; (b) Primary callus; (c) and (d) Embryogenic callus; (e) Germinating embryos into plantlet; (f) Plantlet hardening in pot after acclimatization.

(b)(c) (d)(e) (f)Table 1

Effect of various medium compositions on primary callus induction percentage and proliferation in Citrus reticulata L

Treatment	Media	Conc. (mg/l)	No. of explants cultured	Primary callus induction percentage	Proliferation
C1	MS + 2,4-D + Malt extract	2.0 + 500	10	6.8 ± 0.264bcd	++
C2		3.0 + 500	10	7.3 ± 0.110abc	++
C3		4.0 + 500	10	8.0 ± 0.310ab	+++
C4		5.0 + 500	10	9.0 ± 0.525a	++++
C5	MS + 2,4-D + BAP	1.0 + 5.0	10	8.8 ± 0.984a	+++
C6		2.0 + 3.0	10	8.0 ± 0.490a	+++
C7		3.0 + 2.0	10	6.2 ± 0.070b	++
C8		5.0 + 1.0	10	8.8 ± 0.624a	++++
C9	MS + BAP + malt extract	1.0 + 500	10	7.2 ± 0.346cd	++
C10		1.5 + 500	10	7.8 ± 0.721de	+++
C11		2.0 + 500	10	6.9 ± 0.872cd	++
C12		2.5 + 500	10	5.8 ± 0.380ef	+
C13	MS + NAA + BAP	0.5 + 0.5	10	4.6 ± 0.180a	+++
C14		1.0 + 0.5	10	5.8 ± 0.330b	++
C15		1.5 + 0.5	10	6.2 ± 0.485b	++
C16		2.0 + 0.5	10	8.2 ± 0.341c	+

⁺, Poor; ⁺⁺, fair; ⁺⁺⁺, good; ⁺⁺⁺⁺, excellent. Mean followed by different letters in the same column differ significantly at p = 0.05 according to Duncan’s new multiple range test.

Table 1 shows that MS medium was also supplemented with various concentrations of BAP along with constant concentration of malt extract. Data presented in Table 1 showed that further increase or decrease in the concentration of BAP beyond 1.5 mg/l and 500 mg/l malt extract did not show good results for primary callus induction as compared to this concentration (Figure 1(b)). Malt extract was recognized as a substance for callus initiation with asexual embryogenic potential. Similar results were achieved in “valentia” (sweet orange) Pasqual et al. [22] and “Ponkan” mandarin [23] . Therefore it is necessary to add malt extract in callus induction media as well as for somatic embryo induction. Moreover callus produced in the medium containing malt extract was heavier and embryogenic in nature. These results are in conformity with those of Chen and Zhang [23] in Citrus reticulata and Miah et al. [17] in Citrus macroptera.

2,4-D in combination with BAP was also tested and it was found that 5 mg/l 2,4-D and 1 mg/l BAP was most effective in callus induction. At this concentration the response for primary callus induction was 88%. Our findings are in line with Al-Taha et al. [19] who also obtained similar findings in an attempt for primary callus induction in Citrus sinensis. The primary callus induction response was also observed by Ramdan et al. [24] who reported that 2,4-D and BAP was effective in callus induction in five different citrus rootstocks. Among different concentrations of NAA and BAP, the best result for callus induction was obtained at 0.5 mg/l NAA and 0.5 mg/l BAP. Our results are in strong agreement with Singh et al. [25] who reported that concentration of NAA at 0.5 mg/l and 0.5 mg/l BAP was most effective in callus initiation in Citrus jambhiri. Our results are in strongly agreement with Haoa et al; Gitarani and Vinash [26] [27] who reported that increasing the level of auxins such as 2,4-D and NAA in MS medium resulted in the increase in callus induction percentage.

Creamed colored compact calluses were obtained and cultured on half strength MS medium in different concentrations of two combinations for embryogenic callus induction. In the tested combinations it was found that 2,4-D and BAP was more appropriate for embryogenic potential (Table 2, Figure 1(c) & Figure 1(d)). Our findings regarding to embryogenic callus induction for Citrus reticulata are in strongly agreement with Khan et al. [28] who also reported similar results. Due to presence of auxins, Gloria et al. [29] observed good embryoid

formation in citrus cultivars and good response for somatic embryo induction when MT medium was supplemented with 500 mg/l malt extract. Embryogenic calluses were then cultured in different concentrations of BAP for somatic embryo induction. It is evident from Table 3 that when MS medium was supplemented with different concentrations of BAP for asexual embryo induction, the best response for somatic embryo induction was obtained in MS medium containing 1 mg/l BAP after 4 weeks. At this concentration 80% somatic embryos were obtained. Somatic embryos which were obtained having both shoot and root apices that are anatomically and physiologically comparable to zygotic embryos [30] . Tomaz et al. [31] observed the combined effects of NAA in combination with BAP on the embryoids formation percentage in citrus cultivars.

After the separation of somatic embryos, they were transferred to half strength MS medium containing different concentrations of BAP, BAP + Kin and devoid of growth regulators. Findings (Table 4, Figure 1(e)) showed that MS medium which no hormones was more successful in obtaining plantlets from somatic embryos as compared to MS medium supplemented with cytokinins. The medium without PGHs induced 92% plantlets regeneration. Al-Taha et al. [19] also confirmed our findings. Our results are also in line with Rajdan and Miah et al. [17] [32] who observed successful embryo germination on medium without any phytohormones. The addition of cytokinins also had influence on plantlets regeneration but slightly less significant as compared to hormonal free media. It is evident from Table 4 that M₄ (BAP @ 1 mg/l) and M₈ (BAP + Kin @ 1.0 mg/l + 1.5 mg/l) medium was most successful in obtaining plantlets from the somatic embryos. Jumin et al. [33] observed 0.1 mg/l GA + 0.1 mg/l zeatin was effective for embryoid to plantlets regeneration. There are some reports that virus free plants can be obtained via somatic embryogenesis [34] .

In vitro propagated plantlets of Citrus reticulata removed from the medium and detached the adhering gel. Then they were shifted into plastic pots in four different types of potting mixtures (Table 5). The plantlets were then

Table 2

Effect of various medium compositions on embryogenic callus induction in Citrus reticulata L

Treatment	Media	Conc. (mg/l)	No of calli cultured	Embryogenic callus induction %age	Age of culture (Weeks)
C8	MS + 2,4-D + BAP	5.0 + 1.0	10	8.5 ± 0.171bcd	04
C10	MS + BAP + malt extract	1.5 + 500	10	7.8 ± 0.651cd	04

Mean followed by different letters in the same column differ significantly at p = 0.05 according to Duncan’s new multiple range test.

Table 3

Effect of various concentrations of BAP on somatic embryo induction in Citrus reticulata L

Treatment	Media	Conc. (mg/l)	No of embryogenic calli cultured	Somatic embryo induction %age	Age of culture (Weeks)
	MS + BAP	1.0 1.5	10 10	8.0 ± 0.382fg 6.0 ± 0.220cd	04 04

Mean followed by different letters in the same column differ significantly at p = 0.05 according to Duncan’s new multiple range test.

Table 4

Effect of various medium compositions on plantlets regeneration percentage from somatic embryos in Citrus reticulata L

Treatment	Media	Conc. (mg/l)	No of somatic embryo cultured	Plantlets regeneration	Age of culture (Weeks)
M1 M2 M3 M4	MS + BAP	0.0 0.25 0.5 1.0	10 10 10 10	9.2 ± 0.264h 6.2 ± 0.195fgh 7.5 ± 0.305efg 8.0 ± 0.200de	06 06 06 06
M5 M6 M7 M8	MS + BAP + Kin	0.0 + 0.0 1.0 + 0.5 1.0 + 1.0 1.0 + 1.5	10 10 10 10	9.2 ± 0.351g 5.0 ± 0.180efg 6.8 ± 0.095ab 8.2 ± 0.390cd	06 06 06 06

Mean followed by different letters in the same column differ significantly at p = 0.05 according to Duncan’s new multiple range test.

Table 5

Effect of various potting mixtures on the survival of plantlets of Citrus reticulata L

Sr. No.	Treatments	Frequency of acclimatization of plantlets in pots	Age of plantlets (weeks)
1 2 3 4	Sand Sand + peat moss (2:1) Sand + soil + peat moss (1:1:1) Sand + soil + compost (1:1:1)	80 100 95 90	12 12 12 12

covered with polypropylene sheets. The polypropylene sheets were slowly removed after a period of almost 2 weeks. The process of hardening off was continued for almost 3 months. The highest survival rate was achieved (100%) in potting mixture (Figure 1(f)) having sand and peat moss (2:1) followed by the sand, soil and peat moss (1:1:1). The percentage of success during hardening off was 90% by using sand, soil and compost (1:1:1). The findings of Al-Taha et al. [19] also affirmed our results who reported that plantlets which were obtained and transferred to media containing sand as well as peat moss and highest survival rate (100%) were achieved. Rana and Singh [35] successfully established in vitro plantlets of Kagzi lime in sand, soil and compost (1:1:1) mixture.

4. Conclusion

The results of the present research work standardize the protocols for plantlets regeneration via somatic embryogenesis from the nucellus tissues in Kinnow mandarin. The protocols which have been established can be used in future to transgene and enhance the commercial values of Kinnow mandarin. The techniques established in present study can also be tried for other fruit crops which are difficult to propagate through conventional methods.

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