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Article

Analysis of Nitrogen Utilization Capability during the Proliferation and Maturation Phases of Norway Spruce (Picea abies (L.) H.Karst.) Somatic Embryogenesis

by
Julia Dahrendorf
1,
David Clapham
2 and
Ulrika Egertsdotter
1,3,*
1
Umeå Plant Science Centre, Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-901 83 Umeå, Sweden
2
BioCentre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
3
G.W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Forests 2018, 9(6), 288; https://doi.org/10.3390/f9060288
Submission received: 1 April 2018 / Revised: 18 May 2018 / Accepted: 22 May 2018 / Published: 24 May 2018
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the IUFRO 2.02.09—Christmas Tree Working Group Meeting)
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Abstract

:
Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is a laboratory-based method that allows for cost-effective production of large numbers of clonal copies of plants, of particular interest for conifers where other clonal propagation methods are mostly unavailable. In this study, the effect of l-glutamine as an organic nitrogen source was evaluated for three contrasted media (containing NH4 + NO3 without glutamine, or glutamine + NO3, or glutamine without inorganic nitrogen) during proliferation and maturation of Norway spruce somatic embryos through analyses of activities of the key enzymes of nitrogen metabolism: nitrate reductase (NR), glutamine synthetase (GS) and arginase. A major change in nitrogen metabolism was indicated by the increased activity of GS from zero in the proliferation stage through maturation to high activity in somatic embryo-derived plantlets; furthermore, NR activity increased from zero at the proliferation stage to high activity in maturing embryos and somatic-embryo derived plantlets. In contrast, arginase activity was high at all stages. In accordance with the GS and NR data, proliferation was fastest on the glutamine media, the largest number of mature embryos developed on the glutamine medium without inorganic nitrogen, and the ammonium content of proliferating cultures was much higher than that of mature somatic embryos. The best developed embryos, judged by germination, were from the glutamine + NO3 medium. These insights into nitrogen utilization will help to improve culture medium composition.

1. Introduction

Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H.Karst.) is a key species for forest production in the Northern Hemisphere, including Sweden [1]. To meet the increased demand for wood products, propagation of superior trees from breeding programs is necessary [1,2]. This has usually required seed orchards, which are expensive and have problems with both pollen contamination and cone diseases [3], or clonal propagation by cuttings, which to date has had only limited success [1]. Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is a promising tool for large-scale clonal propagation that allows the capture of values from the breeding program [2]. Implementation of SE for large-scale plant production will benefit from further research and a better understanding of fundamental aspects of the SE process.
Conifers are able to take up both inorganic (nitrate, ammonia) and organic nitrogen sources (l-glutamine, l-arginine) [4,5]. Depending on which nitrogen form is supplied, the uptake preferences as well as effects on plant growth and development are different [6]. As opposed to most other species, conifers prefer ammonium over nitrate [7,8].
The three key enzymes involved in nitrogen metabolism in higher plants are nitrate reductase (NR), glutamine synthetase (GS) and arginase. NR makes use of the nitrate taken up by the roots and converts it into nitrite, which is then further reduced to ammonia [9]; GS has a central role in nitrogen metabolism to re-assimilate ammonium from protein breakdown and assimilate ammonium: taken up from the soil, produced by nitrate reduction or from photorespiration [10]. Arginase plays a role in protein recycling to break down l-arginine to l-ornithine [9]. Along with l-glutamine, l-arginine is also an important amino acid in seed storage proteins [11].
Little is known about nitrogen metabolism during embryogenesis, and only few studies cover conifer embryogenesis. A comparison of zygotic and somatic embryogenesis in Pinus sylvestris L. and Pinus pinaster Aiton demonstrated GS1a expression in somatic, but not zygotic embryos at late developmental stages. Moreover, GS1b transcripts were found in the procambium of both zygotic and somatic embryos, suggesting the importance of GS1b for nitrogen transport [11]. In white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss), high concentrations of l-glutamine, l-glutamate and l-arginine were found in developing embryos [12].
Nitrogen use and preferences of nitrogen forms for uptake appear to differ between the early stages of embryo development and plant development in Norway spruce. It is well documented that seedlings of Norway spruce exhibit a preference for ammonium as an inorganic nitrogen source [13], [7]. However, it has been shown repeatedly that proliferation of embryogenic cultures of Norway spruce is negligible with only inorganic nitrogen but strong after the addition of organic nitrogen in the form of l-glutamine [14] and references therein. A recent study of nitrogen uptake into proembryogenic masses (PEMs) of Norway spruce also demonstrated preferred uptake of organic nitrogen over inorganic nitrogen sources [15]. Casein hydrolysate can substitute for glutamine to some degree and is often added to culture media, providing a mixture of amino acids. It is usually added before autoclaving, which is convenient but breaks down the glutamine.
The aim of this study was to investigate the importance of l-glutamine as a nitrogen source during embryonic tissue proliferation and embryo development of Norway spruce by analyzing the relationship between activities of key enzymes involved in nitrogen metabolism, changes in ammonium and amino acid contents, and efficiency of somatic embryogenesis. Striking increases in the activity of GS and NR were observed from the proliferation stage through embryo maturation and the conversion to plantlets.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Plant Material

The embryogenic cell line 11:12:02 of Norway spruce, initiated from seeds provided by the Forestry Research Institute of Sweden, was used for most of the study. Additional cell lines, 11:07:01 and 09:86:02, used to confirm certain results, are of similar origin. Cultures were proliferated and embryos matured by standard methods on solid medium in 9-cm Petri plates [14]. Five plates of PEMs were used for each culture medium treatment for assays and four for culture; each plate contained one g of PEMs divided into nine clumps. Briefly, proliferation before start of the experiments was stimulated on modified half-strength LP medium (standard medium of Table 1) containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D; 10 µM), N6-benzyladenine (BA; 4.4 µM) and sucrose (29.2 mM). After 6 weeks on the experimental proliferation media, the cultures were transferred to pre-maturation media for 1 week and then to maturation media for 6 weeks. The three experimental prematuration media corresponded to the three types of experimental proliferation media in Table 1 but without growth regulators and with sucrose concentration raised to 87.6 mM. Similarly, the maturation media corresponded to the experimental proliferation media of Table 1 but contained abscisic acid (ABA; 30 µM) as the only growth regulator and sucrose at 87.6 mM. Maturation was followed by two weeks on synchronization media, which were the same as the maturation media with the addition of 0.25 M myo-inositol. Filter-sterilized glutamine was added to the medium after autoclaving. Proliferation, maturation and synchronization of SE cultures were on media solidified by gelrite (3.5%) in Petri dishes. Cultures were kept in darkness at 20 °C. Mature embryos, selected as normal based on their morphology [16], were dried for 3 weeks under high humidity in darkness and subsequently germinated in 15-cm Petri dishes on solid medium; the germination medium was similar to the medium NH4 + NO3 in Table 1 but included KNO3 (7.56 mM) and sucrose at 87.6 mM, and excluded the ammonium salts, K2SO4 and KCl. The pH was adjusted to 5.8 ± 0.1 prior to autoclaving. Germinants were grown for 3 weeks under continuous red light (wavelength: 660 nm; TL-D 18W/15, Philips, Stockholm, Sweden) at 5 μmol m−2 s−1 at 20 °C, then moved under continuous white fluorescent tubes (Fluora L 18W/77, Osram, Johanneshov, Sweden) at 100–150 μmol m−2 s−1 at 20 °C [17]. Two-month old somatic embryo-derived plants and roots of cell line 11:12:02 were kindly provided by SweTree Technologies. The cultures were proliferated and matured by standard methods [14] and converted to plants on the same germination medium as described above.

2.2. Experimental Set Up

The experimental media were designed to provide media with different nitrogen compositions (Table 1). The standard medium commonly used for Norway spruce somatic embryo development was used to bulk up proliferating cultures of proembryonic masses (PEMs).
Proliferation rates of PEMs and development of embryos on the various media were documented after ten days on proliferation medium, one week without plant growth regulators, after three weeks and six weeks on maturation medium, after two weeks on synchronization medium, as well as one week, two and a half weeks and four weeks after germination (Figure 1). Pictures were taken with a Nikon d5000 digital camera (Nikon Corporation, Tokyo, Japan), and microscopes (Stemi 2000-C, Zeiss, Germany with Canon Power Shot G9 and Observer.A1m, Zeiss, Germany with AxioCam MR3Zeiss, Germany). Microscope pictures were processed with the program Axiovision 4.6.3 (Axiovision 4.6.3. Carl Zeiss, Jena, Germany). The proliferation rate based on fresh weight gain during the two-week culture period, maturation success based on the average number of cotyledonary stage mature somatic embryos formed per gram of PEMs at the start of maturation, the germination rate as the number of mature embryos that germinated and germination quality based on visual observation with reference to previous successful conversions from germinants to plants were monitored. Samples for analyses of enzyme activities and ammonium and amino acids were taken at three occasions during embryo proliferation and development after transfer to experimental media (Figure 1).

2.3. Enzyme Assays

Samples of 100 mg of fresh material were taken after four and ten days on experimental proliferation media. After six weeks on experimental maturation medium, 70 mg of fresh cotyledonary stage mature somatic embryos were collected. As reference for the enzyme assays, two-month-old somatic embryo-derived plantlets of cell line 11:12:02 were collected (50 mg) and analyzed. A pool of twelve plantlets was used for one sample. For all samples, three to four biological replicates were analyzed, each with three technical replicates.

2.3.1. GS Assay

The protein extraction step for the GS assay is based on Canovas et al. 1991 [18]. The GS activity assay was determined by the hydroxamate assay described by Canovas et al. 1984 [19] with minor modifications.
Proteins were extracted by grinding frozen samples (from −150 °C freezer, Panasonic Healthcare Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) with two metal beads for 1 min in a bead mill (Retsch MM400, Haan, Germany). Samples were homogenized in 900 µL extraction buffer for another 1 min at 25 Hz s−1 in the bead mill. Cell debris was centrifuged at 10,000× g for 20 min at 4 °C (Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany). The supernatant was used directly as a crude extract. Crude extracts were used for enzyme activity analysis: 40 µL was transferred in triplicate to wells in a 96 well plate and mixed with 40 µL of reaction mix. After incubation on a shaker for 30 min at 37 °C, the reaction was terminated by the addition of 40 µL terminating mixture. Absorbance at 540 nm was measured by using a spectrophotometer (BioTek, ‎Winooski, VT, USA, micro plate reader) for 5 min. GS activity was expressed as µg γ-glutamyl hydroxamate mg−1 protein. The protein concentration of the samples was determined by using the DC Protein Assay (BioRad, Hercules, CA, USA).

2.3.2. NR Assay

The NR assay was performed according to Park et al. 2011 [20]. Two-month old somatic embryo-derived plantlets and roots previously shown to have active NR [21] were included as positive controls for the assay. Proteins were extracted by grinding the frozen (−150 °C) tissues with two beads for 1 min in the bead mill. Samples were homogenized in 1 mL extraction buffer for another minute at 25 Hz s−1 in the bead mill. Cell debris was centrifuged at 10,000× g for 15 min at 4 °C. The required amount of supernatant was directly used and the rest stored at −20 °C. The supernatant (100 µL) was mixed with 1.8 mL of assay reaction buffer and incubated at room temperature for 2 h. The reaction was terminated by the addition of terminating reagent, and the color development was quantified by measuring with a BioTek micro plate reader the increase in absorbance at 540 nm (A540). NR activity is expressed as A540 mg−1 fresh weight over the time interval of 2 h.

2.3.3. Arginase Assay

Arginase activity was determined based on production of urea according to Geyer and Dabich 1971 [22]. Proteins were extracted according to Martín-Falquina and Legaz [23]. The frozen samples were ground with two beads for 1 min in the bead mill. Samples were homogenized in 1 mL extraction buffer for another 1 min at 25 Hz s−1 in the bead mill. Cell debris was centrifuged at 10,000× g for 20 min at 4 °C. The supernatant was used directly. Activation and deactivation of the arginase were performed by incubation of 100 µL of the extracts at 30 °C (activation) and 95 °C (deactivation), respectively, for 1 h in a water bath. Enzyme reactions were started by the addition of 1.4 mL arginase assay buffer to the activated and deactivated samples and incubated for 30 min at 30 °C. Reactions were terminated by the addition of 1.12 mL of 87% acetic acid. Color reagent (2 mL) and 3 mL acid reagent were added to each tube, and the mixture was heated in a water bath at 95 °C for ten minutes. Color development was detected by absorbance measurement at 520 nm. Arginase activity is expressed as urea content per total protein content (mg mg−1 protein min−1). The protein concentration of the samples was measured using the BioRad DC Protein Assay.

2.4. Ammonium and Amino Acid Content

The analysis of the ammonium and amino acid content and composition was carried out with cell line 11:12:02. Three biological replicates of PEM cultures (50 mg) were collected 4 days and 10 days after transfer to the corresponding maturation media and stored at −150 °C until analysis. Of these cultures, 30 mg of cotyledonary stage mature somatic embryos were hand-picked after six weeks on each type of maturation medium and stored at −150 °C until analysis. Three biological replicates were collected from all treatments. The ammonium and amino acid content of the samples were determined using the ACQUITY UPLC® (Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography) Amino Acid Analysis System (Waters Corporation, Milford, MA, USA). The content of each amino acid in the sample is expressed as a ratio of the total amino acid content.

2.5. Statistical Analysis

Data were analyzed statistically with the program JMP version 10.0 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). One-way ANOVA was applied for the proliferation rate, germination rate, enzyme activities, ammonium content and amino acid analysis. Results from different culture media compositions were compared by a Tukey-Kramer HSD test, cut-off at p ≤ 0.05.

3. Results

3.1. The Effect of Nitrogen Source on Somatic Embryogenesis

3.1.1. PEMs

PEM cultures grown either on standard medium or experimental NH4 + NO3, Gln + NO3 and Gln media exhibited no differences in morphology and development ten days after transfer to experimental media (not shown). However, the proliferation rate of the PEMs differed, resulting in differences in fresh weight increase (Figure 2).
PEM cultures on standard medium or NH4 + NO3 medium did not reveal any statistically significant difference in proliferation rate on the two media (Figure 2). However, PEM cultures grown on Gln + NO3 and Gln media showed significantly improved growth of around 80% greater increase in fresh weight compared to PEMs on standard medium.

3.1.2. Maturation

After six weeks on maturation medium with ABA and two weeks on synchronization medium, mature somatic embryos had developed on all the media. However, the size and developmental stage of the somatic embryos differed among the media containing different nitrogen sources.
The largest and most developed somatic embryos with prominent cotyledons were observed on Gln + NO3 medium (Figure 3d–f). Somatic embryos comparable in stage of development, though smaller in size, developed on NH4 + NO3 medium (Figure 3a–c). If matured on Gln medium, somatic embryos were small and many showed brown spots on the cotyledons (Figure 3g–i). The average number of mature somatic embryos per initial gram of PEMs started on maturation medium was significantly higher on Gln medium than on both the Gln + NO3 medium and NH4 + NO3 medium (Figure 4).

3.1.3. Germination

Only somatic embryos with well-developed cotyledons were manually picked, desiccated and transferred to germination medium. After four weeks of germination, morphological differences related to the nitrogen sources in the maturation medium were evident (Figure 5). Somatic embryos matured on Gln + NO3 medium developed slightly better than those matured on NH4 + NO3. Those matured on Gln showed impaired development with only rudimentary root development and often dead shoots. The germination rate was highest after maturation on Gln + NO3 medium (90% of total 608 mature embryos), intermediate on NH4 + NO3 medium (82.1% of total 1021 mature embryos) and lowest after maturation on Gln medium (74.5% of total 2266 mature embryos). Plantlets with the healthiest shoots and roots developed from embryos matured on Gln + NO3 medium, followed by those matured on NH4 + NO3. Germinating embryos matured on Gln medium showed the least normal plant development.

3.2. Enzyme Activities

3.2.1. GS Activity

No GS activity was observed for PEMs of cell line 11:12:02 harvested after four days and ten days on standard and experimental media (Figure 6). Another cell line (09:86:02) analyzed under the same conditions also showed no measurable GS activity (data not shown). GS activity of about 200 µg γ-glutamyl hydroxamate min−1 mg−1 protein was detected in the two-month-old somatic embryo-derived plantlets. This is statistically significant compared to the enzyme activity in mature somatic embryos. The GS activity in mature somatic embryos was confirmed in the other cell line tested, 11:07:01 (Figure S1).

3.2.2. NR Activity

The NR activity detected in cultures of PEMs harvested four days and ten days after transfer to standard or experimental media was zero, like that of GS. Similar results were obtained for PEMs of another cell line (09:86:02) analyzed in parallel (data not shown).
Somatic embryos matured on NH4 + NO3 medium or on Gln medium showed no statistically significant difference in NR activity. Somatic embryos matured on Gln + NO3 medium exhibited a significantly higher NR activity compared to embryos matured on NH4 + NO3 medium and embryos matured on Gln medium (Figure 7). The NR activity in embryos matured on Gln + NO3 medium was also statistically significantly higher than the NR activity found in somatic embryo-derived plantlet roots, and higher, but not significantly so, than in plantlets.

3.2.3. Arginase Activity

Arginase activity was observed in both PEMs and mature somatic embryos (Figure 8a,b). There was no statistically significant difference in the activity of arginase in PEMs after four days or after 10 days after transfer to standard or experimental media; however, arginase activity in PEMs was significantly higher than in somatic embryo-derived plantlets (Figure 8a). Mature somatic embryos generated on Gln + NO3 medium as well as those on NH4 + NO3 medium showed a significantly higher arginase activity than embryos matured on Gln medium (Figure 8b). The lower arginase activity in plantlets than in mature somatic embryos was statistically significant.

3.3. Analysis of the Content of Ammonium and Amino Acids

An aim of the analysis was to test if the absence of GS and NR activities in PEMs was related to an increase in the ammonium content, and changes in amino acid composition, of material grown on the ammonium-rich media, such as NH4 + NO3. Analysis revealed differences between samples from cultures grown on the different media, notably regarding the ammonium, l-arginine, l-glutamine and l-glutamate content (Figure 9).
The ammonium content was significantly higher in PEMs than in mature somatic embryos (p < 0.001). For PEMs, the ammonium content was significantly higher (p ≤ 0.001) for PEMs grown on media containing ammonium ions than on Gln + NO3 medium or Gln medium (Figure 9a). This is consistent with the lack of NR and GS activities in PEMs (Figure 6 and Figure 7).
For PEMs the Gln/AA ratios were lowest as expected on NH4 + NO3 medium, which lacked glutamine, but the differences were not significant (Figure 9b).
The Glu/AA rations are strikingly and significantly higher (p < 0.001) in mature somatic embryos than in PEMs (Figure 9c). This reflects the lack of GS activity in PEMs, and much higher GS activity in mature somatic embryos. The differences among the media were not significant.
Similarly, the Arginine/AA ratios are strikingly higher in mature somatic embryos than in PEMs (Figure 9d). The mature somatic embryos on Gln medium had a significantly higher (p < 0.01) Arginine/AA ratio than those grown on the Gln + NO3 medium.

4. Discussion

4.1. Morphological and Developmental Characterization, and Nitrogen Content

Embryogenic cultures composed of PEMs grew significantly less on NH4 + NO3 medium than on Gln + NO3 or Gln media. The amino acid l-glutamine is an important building block in the nitrogen metabolism of the plant and is the basis for purine, pyrimidine, nucleic acid, l-asparagine, l-histidine, l-tryptophane, l-arginine, and l-glutamate synthesis [24]. Embryogenic cultures grown without l-glutamine must synthesize this amino acid from the nitrogen sources available in the medium. This can be seen as an energetic disadvantage in comparison to PEM cultures which can take up the l-glutamine directly from the medium [25,26], although energy is not a limiting factor if sucrose is supplied in the medium. The beneficial effect of l-glutamine on growth of cell cultures has been shown for several conifer species including Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco [27], Pinus pinaster [28] and Pseudotsuga menziesii [29]. For Picea glauca, four times higher fresh weight increase on initiation medium was observed when l-glutamine was the sole source of nitrogen compared to growth on ammonium nitrate [30]. The increase in proliferation rates observed in media containing NO3 in addition to Gln could be due to the release of additional l-glutamine from metabolized nitrate, or by nitrate functioning as a growth promoting signal [31].
The appearances of the mature somatic embryos differed on the various media. The comparatively largest somatic embryos developed on the Gln + NO3 medium. This is consistent with findings for Daucus carrota L., where somatic embryo development was improved if cultured on l-glutamine and nitrate in comparison to ammonium nitrate [32]. Furthermore, about twice the number of embryos was produced per gram PEM culture on Gln medium than on NH4 + NO3 medium. This is in contrast to findings in Picea glauca, where no difference in embryo development and number from maturation on l-glutamine or ammonium nitrate was found [30], but in line with studies on Medicago sativa L. which showed that the addition of l-glutamine to the media led to both higher number and quality of the somatic embryos [33]. In Eucalyptus citriodora Hook, highly embryogenic cultures developed if l-glutamine and casein hydrolysate were added to the culture medium [34]. Also, in Picea mariana (Mill.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb., cultivation on medium containing l-glutamine as the sole nitrogen source resulted in a twofold increase in somatic embryo number compared to cultivation on ammonium nitrate [35].
Embryos matured on either NH4 + NO3 or Gln + NO3 medium displayed normal germination whereas embryos matured on Gln medium were swollen, showed weaker greening and no root emergence. Embryos from only the Gln medium had the highest internal Arg/AA ratio, suggesting a higher accumulation of l-arginine than in embryos matured on NH4 + NO3 and Gln + NO3 media. Therefore one would assume a sufficient preparation for germination, owing to the importance of l-arginine as a compound in storage proteins for nourishment of germinating embryos [11,36]. Nitrate is important as a nutritional source but also as a signal controlling various aspects of plant growth and development including the supplies of cytokinin and auxin (reviewed by [37,38,39]. Plants suffering from nitrogen limitation often display a weak greening, suggesting that the lack of nitrate caused the impaired germination, either due to the absence of nitrate signaling functions or to nitrogen deficiency [40].
The relatively slower growth rate of PEM cultures on NH4 + NO3 medium lacking l-glutamine did not relate to germination success as germinants also developed on this medium. This is likely due to the benefit of an active GS during the maturation stage, increasing the ammonium tolerance [41] and enabling utilization of the inorganic nitrogen sources in the medium, which is reflected by the similar high Gln/AA ratio in mature embryos on all three media.
In the present study, both the standard medium and the NH4 + NO3 medium were supplemented with a similar amount of ammonium. Distinctly higher ammonium contents of the PEMs grown on these two media were observed, which are likely to counteract the positive effect of l-glutamine and possibly accumulate to toxic levels. Studies with Pinus strobus L. revealed a total inhibition of callus growth if ammonium was the only nitrogen source available [42], and Oryza sativa L. suspension cultures showed inhibited growth if given ammonium [43]. Furthermore, Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck embryogenic callus growth was significantly reduced if the majority of inorganic nitrogen was supplied as ammonium [44]. Another study carried out with Oryza sativa cells found that l-glutamine supplementation had no positive effect on the internal ammonium content [45].

4.2. Enzyme Activities

No GS or NR activity was observed in PEMs regardless of the nitrogen composition of the medium. This is consistent with negligible growth of PEMs on media lacking organic nitrogen. Interestingly, gene expression of NR and GS has been detected in PEM cultures (Carlsson 2014, unpublished). This implies post-transcriptional control of NR and GS; if the mRNA is translated, the resulting proteins are inactive enzymatically. In the present study, autoclaved casein hydrolysate in the medium enabled survival of the PEMs and limited growth, but proliferation increased if l-glutamine was added. Since NR activity in PEMs apparently is very low, utilization of nitrate given in the NH4 + NO3 medium would be suboptimal [9,12], affecting the growth of PEMs. This would also be the case if GS was inactive in PEMs. GS is required to assimilate the ammonium resulting from nitrate and nitrite reduction and to assimilate ammonium provided in the medium [9,12], and PEMs grown on NH4 + NO3 medium exhibited a distinctively lower Gln/AA ratio than PEMs grown on media containing l-glutamine. l-glutamine is an important building block and constantly needed in the metabolism of the plant [10,24]. The increase in the Gln/AA ratio after ten days on medium without an external l-glutamine source may indicate some degree of GS activity in the PEMs or synthesis of glutamine from the amino-acids in the casein hydrolysate by aminotransferases/transaminases. It was previously shown that cell-line 11:12:02 proliferates well on l-asparagine as the sole source of organic nitrogen (Clapham D., unpublished).
In contrast to GS and NR, arginase enzyme activity could be detected in PEMs. Arginase is important for protein breakdown and recycling of stored nitrogen [11,36]. The greater abundance of an enzyme related to nitrogen recycling (arginase) than to the primary incorporation of nitrogen (NR, GS) can be related to the nutrition of the original embryonic tissue in the conifer seed. It is likely that the early stage embryo is fed with l-arginine, l-glutamine and perhaps other transport amino acids. Arginase is required for the synthesis of l-ornithine, from which proline can also be synthesized, see [46]. The arginase activity in PEM cultures was not notably affected by the nitrogen source the cultures were grown on, but was significantly higher than the arginase activity in somatic embryo-derived plantlets. This is confirmed with studies of Pinus taeda L., where arginase activity was shown to be negligible in seedlings [47].
NR activity was detected in mature somatic embryos generated on all media with different nitrogen sources. NR is regulated by many factors both at the transcriptional level and the enzyme activity. A lack of carbon that may occur in darkness owing to inactivity of photosynthetic machinery results in NR being down-regulated and phosphorylated [46,47]. However, if carbon in the form of sucrose is present in darkness, the activity of the NR increases. This could explain the presence of active NR on Gln medium without a nitrate source. Nitrate itself is also a factor up-regulating gene transcription and enzyme activity of NR [46], leading to the presence of active NR on NH4 + NO3 medium. NR activity in 2-month-old somatic embryo-derived plants, containing both shoots and roots, is slightly higher than in the samples from plant roots alone, revealing a high degree of NR activity in roots. This is consistent with findings in many plant species including conifers [40]. Somatic embryo-derived plantlets and roots were selected as positive controls for the functionality of the enzyme assay as they have previously demonstrated NR activity [21].
GS activity could be measured in mature somatic embryos developed on all three media tested. Maturation on NH4 + NO3 without a source of l-glutamine implies the production of glutamine by the embryos themselves. For incorporation of nitrate and ammonium into l-glutamine, GS activity is required [9]. Ammonium is known to up-regulate GS-activity levels in Pseudotsuga menziesii [48], and nitrate abundance affects GS at the transcriptional level [46]. GS activity detected in embryos matured on Gln medium can be related to its importance for the assimilation of ammonium. Some of the sources for ammonium release are protein synthesis and breakdown. Moreover, GS functions together with glutamine oxoglutarate aminotransferase (GOGAT) to provide the basis for synthesis of, for instance, l-ornithine, l-glutamate and l-asparagine [9]. The GS activity detected in mature somatic embryos developed on Gln medium is therefore likely related to the metabolic importance of the enzyme. Furthermore, l-glutamine is known to be chemically unstable in nutrient media and one of the breakdown products is ammonium [49] that can be taken up by the cultures, which in turn needs GS activity for assimilation [9,12]. The notably reduced amount of ammonium in mature somatic embryos compared to PEMs, especially on NH4 + NO3 medium, indicates the development of a more effective ammonium assimilation during somatic embryogenesis, presumably due to increasing GS activity. The comparatively high GS activity in the 2-month old somatic embryo-derived plantlets can be explained by the important function of GS1a in detoxifying photorespiratory ammonium in photosynthetic active tissues [50].
Arginase activity is only marginally higher in mature embryos than in PEMs, but the internal l-arginine content is about five times higher. This indicates a similar degree of protein recycling via the arginase during proliferation and maturation, but at the same time, a higher degree of l-arginine synthesis or lesser use than at the proliferation stage. One possible building block for l-arginine is l-ornithine, which in turn is synthesised from l-glutamate [9]. This coincides with a detected higher Glu/AA ratio in somatic embryos than in PEMs while the Gln/AA ratio remained similar. The higher l-glutamate content in mature embryos than in PEMs is presumably metabolized further, likely also to l-arginine, explaining the higher Arg/AA ratio during the maturation stage. The increase in the Arg/AA ratio in somatic embryos compared to PEMs is in line with studies in Daucus carota showing a peak of the internal l-arginine content during globular and torpedo stage somatic embryos [32]. The generally higher Arg/AA ratio in mature somatic embryos than in PEM cultures is presumably due to the role of l-arginine in storage protein composition of conifer seeds [11,36]. In Pinus taeda, nearly half of the storage reserves in the megagametophyte is composed of l-arginine [47]. As a result, l-arginine is believed to accumulate in mature somatic embryos in order to ensure provision of, e.g., l-ornithine for further amino acid synthesis [51], for feeding the germinating embryo. Somatic embryos matured on Gln medium showed significantly lower arginase activity than embryos developed on both NH4 + NO3 and Gln + NO3. The lower arginase activity in somatic embryos developed on Gln medium corresponds with their higher Arg/AA ratio. This suggests a higher amount of l-arginine in mature somatic embryos developed on Gln medium in comparison to embryos obtained on both ammonium plus nitrate and Gln + NO3 medium. Furthermore, a high content of the storage protein-related amino-acid l-arginine would be expected to improve germination. In Medicago sativa, addition of l-glutamine to the maturation medium resulted in higher storage protein accumulation of somatic embryos [52].

5. Conclusions

PEMs do not proliferate on media lacking organic nitrogen. In the present study, it was demonstrated that the reduced growth of PEMs on medium containing only NH4 + NO3, as compared to medium supplemented with l-glutamine (Gln; Gln + NO3 media), was associated with absence of detectable GS and NR activities. This can be related to the preferential uptake at this stage of glutamine rather than nitrate and ammonium reported by [15]. Detectable levels of GS and NR activity were however found in mature somatic embryos, suggesting an increase in enzyme activities compared to those in PEMs. Mature somatic embryos could also be produced on NH4 + NO3 medium. However, the largest and most developed mature somatic embryos were achieved by culture on Gln + NO3 medium, which combines a reduced (l-glutamine) and an unreduced (nitrate) form of nitrogen, leading to the best germination rates and healthiest SE-plantlets.

Supplementary Materials

The following is available online at https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/9/6/288/s1, Figure S1: GS activity in cell line 11:07:01.

Author Contributions

J.D., D.C. and U.E. conceived and designed the experiments; J.D. performed the experiments; J.D., D.C. and U.E. analyzed the data and wrote the paper.

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by funding from UPSC Berzelii Centre for Forest Biotechnology in Umeå, Sweden. We thank Edward Businge for his advice regarding the enzyme assays. We are grateful to SweTree Technologies for the donation of plants, and to the Swedish Metabolomics Centre for amino acids and ammonium analysis.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Figure 1. Overview of sampling during the somatic embryogenesis process in Norway spruce PEMs were sampled from experimental media after four and ten days (red arrows). Samples were taken after six weeks on maturation media (red arrow).
Figure 1. Overview of sampling during the somatic embryogenesis process in Norway spruce PEMs were sampled from experimental media after four and ten days (red arrows). Samples were taken after six weeks on maturation media (red arrow).
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Figure 2. Relative fresh weight increase (%) of PEM cultures after ten days on different proliferation media: standard medium, NH4 + NO3 medium, Gln + NO3 medium and Gln medium. Proliferation rates have been related to the standard medium. Bars indicate standard errors. Different letters above the columns indicate significant differences based on the Tukey-Kramer HSD test, p ≤ 0.05.
Figure 2. Relative fresh weight increase (%) of PEM cultures after ten days on different proliferation media: standard medium, NH4 + NO3 medium, Gln + NO3 medium and Gln medium. Proliferation rates have been related to the standard medium. Bars indicate standard errors. Different letters above the columns indicate significant differences based on the Tukey-Kramer HSD test, p ≤ 0.05.
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Figure 3. Mature somatic embryos of Norway spruce cell line 11:12:02 after six weeks on maturation media followed by two weeks on corresponding synchronization media: (a–c) NH4 + NO3; (d–f) Gln + NO3 and (g–i) Gln. Left bars = 5 mm; middle bars = 2 mm; right bars: 1 mm.
Figure 3. Mature somatic embryos of Norway spruce cell line 11:12:02 after six weeks on maturation media followed by two weeks on corresponding synchronization media: (a–c) NH4 + NO3; (d–f) Gln + NO3 and (g–i) Gln. Left bars = 5 mm; middle bars = 2 mm; right bars: 1 mm.
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Figure 4. Average number of mature somatic embryos (MSE) developed per gram of PEMs on NH4 + NO3 medium, Gln + NO3 medium and Gln medium after eight weeks with ABA. Different letters above the columns indicate significant differences based on the Tukey-Kramer HSD test, p ≤ 0.05.
Figure 4. Average number of mature somatic embryos (MSE) developed per gram of PEMs on NH4 + NO3 medium, Gln + NO3 medium and Gln medium after eight weeks with ABA. Different letters above the columns indicate significant differences based on the Tukey-Kramer HSD test, p ≤ 0.05.
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Figure 5. Germination of mature somatic embryos after four weeks on germination medium. Mature embryos were generated on (a,b) NH4 + NO3 medium; (c,d) Gln + NO3 medium; (e,f) Gln medium. Upper bars = 2 mm; middle and lower bars = 5 mm.
Figure 5. Germination of mature somatic embryos after four weeks on germination medium. Mature embryos were generated on (a,b) NH4 + NO3 medium; (c,d) Gln + NO3 medium; (e,f) Gln medium. Upper bars = 2 mm; middle and lower bars = 5 mm.
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Figure 6. GS activity of PEMs after 4 days (PEM 4d) and after 10 days (PEM 10d) on standard or experimental media and of mature somatic embryos (MSE) generated on NH4 + NO3 medium, Gln + NO3 medium and Gln medium in comparison with two-month-old somatic embryo-derived plantlets. Bars indicate standard errors. Different letters above the columns indicate significant differences based on the Tukey-Kramer HSD test, p ≤ 0.05.
Figure 6. GS activity of PEMs after 4 days (PEM 4d) and after 10 days (PEM 10d) on standard or experimental media and of mature somatic embryos (MSE) generated on NH4 + NO3 medium, Gln + NO3 medium and Gln medium in comparison with two-month-old somatic embryo-derived plantlets. Bars indicate standard errors. Different letters above the columns indicate significant differences based on the Tukey-Kramer HSD test, p ≤ 0.05.
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Figure 7. NR activity of PEMs after 4 days (PEM 4d) and after 10 days (PEM 10d) on standard or experimental media, mature somatic embryos (MSE) generated on NH4 + NO3 medium, Gln + NO3 medium and Gln medium and two-month-old somatic embryo-derived plantlets and roots. Bars indicate the standard error. Different letters above the columns indicate significant differences based on the Tukey-Kramer HSD test, p ≤ 0.05.
Figure 7. NR activity of PEMs after 4 days (PEM 4d) and after 10 days (PEM 10d) on standard or experimental media, mature somatic embryos (MSE) generated on NH4 + NO3 medium, Gln + NO3 medium and Gln medium and two-month-old somatic embryo-derived plantlets and roots. Bars indicate the standard error. Different letters above the columns indicate significant differences based on the Tukey-Kramer HSD test, p ≤ 0.05.
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Figure 8. Arginase activity of PEMs and mature somatic embryos (MSE). (a) arginase activity of PEMs after 4 days (PEM 4d) and after 10 days (PEM 10d) on standard medium, NH4 + NO3 medium, Gln + NO3 medium and Gln medium in comparison with somatic embryo-derived plantlets run as control; (b) arginase activity of mature somatic embryos generated on NH4 + NO3 medium, Gln + NO3 medium and Gln medium in comparison with two-month-old somatic embryo-derived plantlets. Bars indicate standard errors. Different letters above the columns indicate significant differences based on the Tukey-Kramer HSD test, p ≤ 0.05.
Figure 8. Arginase activity of PEMs and mature somatic embryos (MSE). (a) arginase activity of PEMs after 4 days (PEM 4d) and after 10 days (PEM 10d) on standard medium, NH4 + NO3 medium, Gln + NO3 medium and Gln medium in comparison with somatic embryo-derived plantlets run as control; (b) arginase activity of mature somatic embryos generated on NH4 + NO3 medium, Gln + NO3 medium and Gln medium in comparison with two-month-old somatic embryo-derived plantlets. Bars indicate standard errors. Different letters above the columns indicate significant differences based on the Tukey-Kramer HSD test, p ≤ 0.05.
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Figure 9. Ammonium and amino acid contents of PEMs four and ten days after transfer to standard medium, NH4 + NO3, medium, Gln + NO3 medium and Gln medium and mature somatic embryos (MSE) after six weeks on the corresponding maturation media. (a) ammonium contents per g FW; (b) l-glutamine content expressed as the ratio of l-glutamine: total amino acid content (Gln/AA); (c) l-glutamate content expressed as the ratio of l-glutamate: total amino acid content (Glu/AA); (d) l-arginine content expressed as the ratio of l-arginine: total amino acid content (Arg/AA). Bars indicate standard errors.
Figure 9. Ammonium and amino acid contents of PEMs four and ten days after transfer to standard medium, NH4 + NO3, medium, Gln + NO3 medium and Gln medium and mature somatic embryos (MSE) after six weeks on the corresponding maturation media. (a) ammonium contents per g FW; (b) l-glutamine content expressed as the ratio of l-glutamine: total amino acid content (Gln/AA); (c) l-glutamate content expressed as the ratio of l-glutamate: total amino acid content (Glu/AA); (d) l-arginine content expressed as the ratio of l-arginine: total amino acid content (Arg/AA). Bars indicate standard errors.
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Table
Table 1. Mineral, organic nitrogen and vitamin composition of the standard and experimental media for proliferation of PEMs. Sucrose (29.21 mM) and the growth regulators 2,4-D (10 µM) and N6-benzylaminopurine 4.4 µM were also included. Media were solidified with gelrite (3.5 g L−1). Casein hydrolysate (0.5 g L−1) was added before autoclaving, glutamine was added filter-sterilized after autoclaving.
Table 1. Mineral, organic nitrogen and vitamin composition of the standard and experimental media for proliferation of PEMs. Sucrose (29.21 mM) and the growth regulators 2,4-D (10 µM) and N6-benzylaminopurine 4.4 µM were also included. Media were solidified with gelrite (3.5 g L−1). Casein hydrolysate (0.5 g L−1) was added before autoclaving, glutamine was added filter-sterilized after autoclaving.
Experimental Media
ConstituentStandardNH4 + NO3Gln + NO3Gln
Concentration, mM
KNO39.40000
NH4NO33.75000
NaNO3026.5826.580
NH4Cl03.4600
K2SO400.720.720.72
KCl02.562.562.56
MgSO4·7H2O0.750.770.770.77
KH2PO41.251.861.861.86
CaCl2·2H2O1.500.740.740.74
Concentration, µM
FeSO4·7H2O45.7591.591.591.5
Na2EDTA25.0250.0350.0350.03
Zn-EDTA5.004000
ZnSO4·7H2O029.9129.9129.91
KI2.265.005.005.00
H3BO35.09100.26100.26100.26
MnSO4·7H2O5.00108.26108.26108.26
NaMoO4·2H2O0.0071.371.371.37
CuSO4·5H2O0.0010.160.160.16
CoCl2·6H2O0.0010.190.190.19
Pyridoxine2.95000
Nicotinic acid8.12000
Thiamine·HCl7.412.92.92.9
Concentration, mM
Myo-inositol1.250.280.280.28
l-Glutamine3.0806.206.20
Casein hydrolysate03.903.903.90

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Dahrendorf, J.; Clapham, D.; Egertsdotter, U. Analysis of Nitrogen Utilization Capability during the Proliferation and Maturation Phases of Norway Spruce (Picea abies (L.) H.Karst.) Somatic Embryogenesis. Forests 2018, 9, 288. https://doi.org/10.3390/f9060288

AMA Style

Dahrendorf J, Clapham D, Egertsdotter U. Analysis of Nitrogen Utilization Capability during the Proliferation and Maturation Phases of Norway Spruce (Picea abies (L.) H.Karst.) Somatic Embryogenesis. Forests. 2018; 9(6):288. https://doi.org/10.3390/f9060288

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Dahrendorf, Julia, David Clapham, and Ulrika Egertsdotter. 2018. "Analysis of Nitrogen Utilization Capability during the Proliferation and Maturation Phases of Norway Spruce (Picea abies (L.) H.Karst.) Somatic Embryogenesis" Forests 9, no. 6: 288. https://doi.org/10.3390/f9060288

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