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Seed Germination and Micropropagation of Ornamental Plants

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A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Floriculture, Nursery and Landscape, and Turf".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 37950

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Konstantinos Bertsouklis

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Guest Editor

Lab. of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece
Interests: endemic ornamental and aromatic species; exploitation and introduction of Greek native plant species in floriculture; ornamental indoor and outdoor plants; phylogenetic study using molecular and morphological markers; plant propagation material in floriculture; salinity; seed ecophysiology; tissue culture study of species whose populations are threatened by human activity or other factors, contributing to their conservation; vegetative propagation; plant management; xeriscape plants

Dr. Epaminondas Kartsonas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Agriculture, University of Peloponnese, 24100 Kalamata, Greece
Interests: plant propagation; plant anatomy; plant cultivation techniques; plant physiology; biodiversity and conservation of endemic and endangered species
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Angela Carra

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Guest Editor

Institute of Biosciences and BioResources, Division of Palermo, National Research Council, Via Ugo La Malfa, 153, I-90146 Palermo, Italy
Interests: plant propagation, micropropagation and regeneration of endemic and endangered trees, shrubs and perennials starting from several plant explant; physiology of plant development, focused especially on recalcitrance of rooting process; studies on biodiversity and conservation of endemic and endangered plants throw plant biotechnologies; somatic embryogenesis for sanitation, regeneration and propagation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues

Ornamental plants are of high significance for human life and can help improve the environmental conditions in cities since ancient times. As such, they are used in interior and exterior landscaping as trees, shrubs, as well as annual and perennial species. They are also cultivated for cut flowers or as pot and foliage plants. New species from the wild have high research interest, and their introduction in the local horticulture industry is aiming to adapt to climate change. Sexual and asexual propagation are employed for their production; many native plant species have been introduced in the floriculture industry, greatly supporting biodiversity and local pollinators. Micropropagation is a tool used for in vitro conservation and research concerning the production of plant clones with desirable characteristics for crosses to improve wild species for potential horticultural use. Fruit trees as well as aromatic and medicinal plants are also very attractive and can be used as ornamentals. Additionally, xeriscapes could be enriched with new species selected for their water efficiency. The local rural landscape character could be enhanced by the use of wildflowers meadows. Research and review manuscripts focussed on seed germination and plant tissue culture techniques for ornamental plants in landscaping and floriculture fall within the scope of this Special Issue.

Dr. Konstantinos Bertsouklis
Dr. Epaminondas Kartsonas
Dr. Angela Carra
Guest Editors

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Horticulturae is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

artificial seeds
clonal propagation
dormancy
endangered species
in vitro propagation
micropropagation
ornamental plants
plant tissue culture
seed germination
somatic embryogenesis

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Published Papers (14 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

5 pages, 165 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Seed Germination and Micropropagation of Ornamental Plants

by Konstantinos Bertsouklis, Epaminondas Kartsonas and Angela Carra

Horticulturae 2024, 10(6), 541; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10060541 - 22 May 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2050

Abstract

Ornamental species can improve the environmental conditions in cities, serving the European Union’s biodiversity strategy to bring nature back into our lives [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Seed Germination and Micropropagation of Ornamental Plants)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

17 pages, 2409 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Effects of Different Media and Their Strengths in In Vitro Culture of Three Different Cistus creticus L. Populations and Their Genetic Assessment Using Simple Sequence Repeat Molecular Markers

by Kostas Ioannidis and Polyxeni Koropouli

Horticulturae 2024, 10(1), 104; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10010104 - 22 Jan 2024

Viewed by 1592

Abstract

Cistus creticus L. (rockrose), a species of ecological and medicinal significance, constitutes a valuable component of the Mediterranean ecosystem. The present study investigated the effect of the inorganic salt concentration of Murashige and Skoog medium (MS), woody plant medium (WPM), and Driver and Kuniyaki Walnut medium (DKW) at several strengths (1/8×, 1/4×, 1/2×, 1×, and 2×) on the in vitro growth and organogenesis of rockrose. Significant interactions were observed throughout the experiments between pairs of plant origins, medium types, and strengths, and we also examined the extent to which they affected the studied traits was examined. The types of nutrient medium affected all studied traits except shoot and root percentages. The maximum growth percentage (143.49%) was gained using full-strength WPM. The best performance in shoot percentage was obtained using MS (100%) at several strengths along with 1× WPM (100%). The topmost rooting percentage values (98.61%) were obtained using 1× WPM and 1/2× DKW. The highest number of shoots and roots were observed using full-strength MS (9.39) and half-strength WPM (6.49), respectively. The maximum values for shoot and root length were achieved using 1/2× MS (0.78 cm) and 1/8× WPM (1.55 cm), respectively. The origin of the plant material did not influence any studied trait. Moreover, the genetic relations among the populations used in the in vitro culture were assessed using simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers. Twenty-eight alleles were identified across all five STR loci. The different and effective alleles per locus were 5.60 and 4.72, respectively. The average observed and expected heterozygosity was estimated at 0.52 and 0.72, respectively. Shannon’s information index and the inbreeding coefficient (F) were assessed at 1.48 and 0.30, respectively, revealing a narrow genetic base and high genetic similarity among origins, suggesting that they belong to the same population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Seed Germination and Micropropagation of Ornamental Plants)

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13 pages, 2566 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Regeneration of African Violet in Response to Light Quality

by Zohreh Aslami, Masood Ghasemi Ghehsareh, Sayyed Mohammad Ehsan Mahdavi and Silvana Nicola

Horticulturae 2024, 10(1), 78; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10010078 - 12 Jan 2024

Viewed by 1489

Abstract

Light-emitting diode (LED) technology is a form of artificial lighting that offers precise control over spectral composition, creating specific conditions for plant growth and development. However, the influence of various LED wavelengths on the regeneration characteristics in African violet (AV) has not been extensively explored. This study aims to investigate the changes in the regeneration traits of AV when exposed to different LED light colors within controlled conditions. In this study, AV leaf cuttings were prepared and subjected to white, red, blue, and red + blue light colors for a period of three months in a growth chamber. Afterward, they were transferred to the laboratory for further analysis. The results indicated that the AVs treated with red + blue colors exhibited the most significant improvement in several morpho-physiological traits of both the roots and shoots. The highest total biomass (2.96 g), shoot fresh weight (1.76 g), root dry weight (0.14 g), root volume (3.10 cm³), and shoot length (1.60 cm) were observed in this treatment group. Furthermore, the highest levels of photosynthetic pigments, such as chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids (0.14, 0.12, and 3.80 mg g⁻¹ f.w., respectively), were predominantly observed in the red + blue treatment group. In conclusion, this study introduces a novel methodology for optimizing lighting conditions to enhance the regeneration of African violets, shedding light on the potential for improving AV regeneration practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Seed Germination and Micropropagation of Ornamental Plants)

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18 pages, 1791 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Asexual Propagation of Greek Salvia officinalis L. Populations Selected for Ornamental Use

by Christos Nanos, Parthena Tsoulpha, Stefanos Kostas, Stefanos Hatzilazarou, Ioanna Michail, Vasiliki Anastasiadi, Elias Pipinis, Evangelos Gklavakis, Angelos K. Kanellis and Irini Nianiou-Obeidat

Horticulturae 2023, 9(7), 847; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9070847 - 24 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2230

Abstract

Salvia officinalis, commonly known as sage, is highly valued for its medicinal and ornamental properties. In the present work, 12 native sage populations of north-west Greece were evaluated for eight ornamental traits. Populations from the locations of Aristi, Kefalovryso and Igoumenitsa were selected as the best performing and for their preservation and availability in the market, their asexual propagation was investigated by (a) shoot cutting and (b) in vitro techniques. Propagation by cuttings was investigated during the four seasons. Aristi exhibited the highest rooting (65%) in spring with a well-developed root system (4.7 root number and 5.0 cm length) by applying 0.5 g·L⁻¹ Indole-3-butyric acid, potassium salt (K-IBA), established on perlite under a fog system. However, the rooting performance of Aristi spring cuttings was not affected by different substrates of peat:perlite (0:1, 1:1, 1:2 v/v) or rooting systems (mist, fog) tested. Furthermore, the in vitro propagation of the selected sage populations was investigated using shoot tips as explants. After successful disinfection, the effect of Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium in ten different combinations of Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) and Thidiazuron (TDZ) were tested on shoot multiplication. Aristi presented the highest number of newly formed shoots on MS9 (0.1 mg·L⁻¹ IAA and 0.8 mg·L⁻¹ TDZ) and MS5 (0.1 mg·L⁻¹ IAA and 0.8 mg·L⁻¹ BAP) (3.35 and 3.21 new shoots/explant, respectively) with the highest shoot length (2.23 cm and 3.2 cm) and unexpected spontaneous root formation (64%) at MS5. The rooting ability of Aristi microshoots was further investigated in order to enhance their response. Of the three rooting variants tested, optimal rooting formation (100%) was observed on 0.9 mg·L⁻¹ IAA (R3) combined with successful acclimatization (100%). Aristi exceeded the other populations in both the tested propagation systems, thus holding a strong potential for its introduction in the market as a competitive ornamental variety. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Seed Germination and Micropropagation of Ornamental Plants)

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14 pages, 3323 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Dormancy Types and Germination Characteristics of the Seeds of Berberis koreana Palibin, an Endemic Species of Korea

by Do-Hyun Kim, Sang-Geun Kim, Hayan Lee, Chae-Sun Na and Do-Hyung Lee

Horticulturae 2023, 9(5), 547; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9050547 - 1 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2449

Abstract

Berberis koreana Palibin is an endemic plant native to Korea. In this study, we aimed to study the seed germination of this species using a water imbibition experiment, gibberellic acid (GA₃) treatment (0, 10, 100, or 1000 mg·L⁻¹), cold stratification (0, 2, 4, 8, or 12 weeks at 4 °C), move-along experiment, and phenology studies. In the water imbibition experiment, the weight of the seeds increased by more than 120% in 24 h. An analysis of the internal and external morphological characteristics of the seed revealed that the embryo was already fully grown from the fruit and did not grow thereafter. The final germination percentages for the cold stratification at 0, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks at 4 °C were 12 ± 3.65, 32 ± 9.09, 59 ± 1.00, 59 ± 9.59, and 71 ± 1.91%, respectively. In the move-along experiment and phenology studies, a longer low-temperature treatment period resulted in a higher germination percentage. However, the GA₃ treatment had little effect on the seed germination. Our results indicate that B. koreana exhibits an intermediate physiological seed dormancy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Seed Germination and Micropropagation of Ornamental Plants)

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12 pages, 1748 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Mycorrhization Enhances Vegetative Growth, Leaf Gas Exchange, and Root Development of Micropropagated Philodendron bipinnatifidum Schott ex Endl. Plantlets during Acclimatization

by Yaser Hassan Dewir, Muhammad M. Habib, AbdulAziz A. AlQarawi, Thobayet S. Alshahrani, Ahmed Ali Alaizari, Jahangir A. Malik, Mona S. Alwahibi and Hosakatte Niranjana Murthy

Horticulturae 2023, 9(2), 276; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9020276 - 17 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2435

Abstract

Philodendron bipinnatifidum Schott ex Endl. is a popular ornamental plant that is normally propagated by tissue culture methods. However, the growth and acclimatization of micropropagated plants are tarrying processes. Therefore, in the present study we examined the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) Gigaspora albida and G. marginata on the success in the establishment, growth, and development of P. bipinnatifidum plantlets during the acclimatization phase. AMF plants had significantly more leaves (10.67 per plant), leaf area (75.63 cm²), plant height (14.17 cm), shoot fresh weight (3.30 g) and shoot dry weight (0.31 g), according to an analysis of growth characteristics. In comparison, non-AMF plants had lower values for these metrics. In addition, AMF plants had significantly longer main roots (23 cm), total length roots per plantlet (485.73 cm), average root diameter (4.58 mm) per plantlet, number of root tips (236) per plant, total root surface area (697.76 cm²), total root volume (79.98 cm³), roots fresh weight (1.51 g), roots dry weight (0.16 g) than non-AMF plants. AMF-treated plants showed better performance in leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll, and carotenoid content. These results emphasize the need for mycorrhization of micropropagated plants to promote vegetative growth, especially during the acclimatization stage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Seed Germination and Micropropagation of Ornamental Plants)

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13 pages, 2858 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Somatic Embryogenesis and Flow Cytometric Assessment of Nuclear Genetic Stability for Sansevieria spp.: An Approach for In Vitro Regeneration of Ornamental Plants

by Caterina Catalano, Angela Carra, Francesco Carimi, Antonio Motisi, Maurizio Sajeva, Alan Butler, Sergio Lucretti, Debora Giorgi, Anna Farina and Loredana Abbate

Horticulturae 2023, 9(2), 138; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9020138 - 19 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2172

Abstract

Sansevieria Thunb. species are traditionally known as succulent ornamental plants worldwide. They are also cultivated for medicinal, fodder, soil conservation and fiber uses, and for their capacity to reduce environmental pollution. Sansevieria sexual propagation is limited by the lack of viable seeds, and reproduction is largely made via vegetative propagation by suckers or cuttings. For these reasons, genetic improvement by conventional breeding is limited. To overcome this problem and to address the increasing demand from customers for novel Sansevieria varieties, many commercial companies regularly use in vitro propagation, as is the case in the breeding process of several ornamental plants. In this paper, for the first time, we report a procedure for in vitro somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration starting from three flower explants for seven different Sansevieria genotypes. Regeneration was attempted using stigmas/styles, anther/filament, and ovary which were cultured on a Murashige and Skoog solidified medium under three different plant growth regulator combinations. A good regeneration rate was obtained with all genotypes used under all culture conditions tested from every explant type, with percentages ranging from 0 to 73.3%. “Genetic stability” assessment of regenerated plants in respect to their mother plants was verified through flow cytometry analysis showing a high degree of uniformity, with only S. parva exhibiting a different level of DNA fluorescence among in vitro regenerated plants. This is an interesting achievement in the aim to produce true-to-type plants and new variants with desirable characteristics, both of which are desired features in ornamentals improvement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Seed Germination and Micropropagation of Ornamental Plants)

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15 pages, 2701 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Vitro Propagation of the Mount Parnitha Endangered Species Sideritis raeseri subsp. Attica

by Konstantinos Bertsouklis, Panagiota Theodorou and Paraskevi-Evangelia Aretaki

Horticulturae 2022, 8(12), 1114; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8121114 - 27 Nov 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2610

Abstract

Over the past few decades, both wildfires and human-sparked fires have ravaged Mount Parnitha, destroying the mountain’s unique natural ecosystem, applying pressure to its flora, and subjecting the vulnerable populations of Sideritis raeseri subsp. attica to excessive stress. The present study aims to establish an efficient micropropagation method starting from in vitro-grown seedlings. The in vitro germination study carried out during the production of seedlings revealed a higher germination rate (34.0% and 37.0%, respectively) at 20.0 °C and 25.0 °C. The in vitro-derived seedlings studied were used as the starting material for the establishment of various media. Murashige and Skoog (MS) media, hormone-free and containing 0.5 mg L⁻¹ 6-benzyladenine (BA), led to the satisfactory (84.0–89.0%) establishment of plantlets. During the multiplication phase, the study used BA in conjunction with α-naphthaleneacetic acetic acid and four different cytocinins (BA; kinetin (KIN); 6-(γ-γ-dimethylallylamino) purine; zeatin) at low concentrations (0.5 mg L⁻¹). During the second subculture, a high multiplication index (7.3 and 6.4, respectively) was found for the hormone-free MS medium and the MS medium containing KIN at 0.5 mg L⁻¹. Hyperhydricity took place on the media supplemented with hormones. Rooting occurred on the half-strength MS medium (51.0%). After two months, the plants’ survival rate stood at 100.0%, as did their ex vitro acclimatisation rate, which also registered at 100.0%. The present results could encourage not only the introduction of S. raeseri subsp. attica into the industry of floriculture as a new ornamental plant but also its ex vitro conservation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Seed Germination and Micropropagation of Ornamental Plants)

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13 pages, 792 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chitosan Soaking Improves Seed Germination of Platycodon Grandiflorus and Enhances Its Growth, Photosynthesis, Resistance, Yield, and Quality

by Hai Liu, Zhihong Zheng, Xue Han, Cheng Zhang, Haitao Li and Mingkai Wu

Horticulturae 2022, 8(10), 943; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8100943 - 14 Oct 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2841

Abstract

Platycodon grandiflorus is a medical, ornamental, and edible traditional Chinese medicine whose seed germination and plant growth are frequently restricted by dormancy and stresses. In this study, we investigated how chitosan soaking affected seed germination, growth, photosynthesis, resistance, yield, and quality of P. grandiflorus. The results indicated that chitosan soaking had a preferable enhancing effect on seed germination of P. grandiflorus, which significantly (p < 0.05) promoted its germination rate, energy, and index, as well as cotyl and radicle length. Furthermore, 0.15–0.20% chitosan soaking effectively enhanced the leaf growth, height, stem diameter, and overground part dry weight of P. grandiflorus and reliably improved their leaves’ chlorophyll, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and water use efficiency. Moreover, 0.15–0.20% chitosan soaking effectively enhanced the stress resistance and adaptability of P. grandiflorus via increasing its resistance substances and triggering its defense enzyme activity. Meanwhile, 0.15–0.20% chitosan soaking effectively improved the underground part growth and medical quality of P. grandiflorus. This study highlights that chitosan can be used as a favorable, efficient, and economical candidate or promoter for enhancing seed germination of P. grandiflorus and improving its growth, photosynthesis, resistance, yield, and quality; it also highlights that 0.15–0.20% chitosan is a suitable concentration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Seed Germination and Micropropagation of Ornamental Plants)

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12 pages, 1838 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Brief UV-C Irradiation Treatments on Rooting Performance of Pelargonium × hortorum (L.H. Bailey) Stem Cuttings

by Anastasios I. Darras, Katerina Grigoropoulou, Kallirroi Dimiza and Faisal Zulfiqar

Horticulturae 2022, 8(10), 897; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8100897 - 29 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1544

Abstract

Pelargonium × hortorum (L.H. Bailey), is a South African native ornamental plant with worldwide commercial recognition used in gardens and terraces. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of low doses of UV-C irradiation on rooting performance of P. × hortorum stem cuttings. We also tested the hypothesis that UV-C-induced ethylene production directly interacted with rooting process. Over a 40 d evaluation period, the ethylene production of the UV-C-treated stem cuttings was significantly increased. UV-C irradiation positively affected rooting performance. Rooting percentage was increased in the UV-C-irradiated stem cuttings by up to 17%, time to rooting was decreased by 15% (e.g., 5 d) and root weight increased by 17% compared to the nonirradiated controls. UV-C irradiation did not affect net CO₂ assimilation (A_s), but it induced transpiration (E) on the 14, 20, 22 and 24 d of the evaluation period. Positive correlations were found between ethylene production and A_s, E, stomatal conductance (g_s) and root weight, while a negative correlation was recorded between days to rooting and ethylene. UV-C hastened flower production of the cuttings, but it did not affect colour parameters. We suggest that low doses of UV-C may induce endogenous ethylene production, which at low levels, interact with other hormonal mechanisms to activate root development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Seed Germination and Micropropagation of Ornamental Plants)

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11 pages, 2078 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Effect of Parental Components and Pollination Frequency on the Setting and Germination of Chrysanthemum Seeds

by Natalia Miler and Dariusz Kulus

Horticulturae 2022, 8(9), 827; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8090827 - 8 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3342

Abstract

The chrysanthemum is one of the most economically important ornamental plants in the Asteraceae family. Unfortunately, the efficacy of breeding through the traditional crossing in this species is highly limited due to inefficient seed setting. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of parental components and crossing frequency on the set and germination of chrysanthemum seeds. For this purpose, seven chrysanthemum cultivars were used as parental components in 10 crossing combinations. The crossing was performed either once or twice a week, for three successive weeks, starting from November. Next, the obtained chrysanthemum seeds were collected, sown in pots in a greenhouse, and seedling growth was observed. The efficacy of the seed set, germination rate, and plant development was evaluated. The plants of the F₁ generation were brought to flowering and evaluated phenotypically in the three successive vegetative propagation cycles. Both the arrangement of parental components and pollination frequency affected the production of seeds. More seeds were obtained if pollination was performed twice a week and if the ‘Wda’ cultivar was used as the maternal component. Approximately 50–100% of the seeds were able to germinate in the greenhouse, depending on the parental components, which also affected the developmental pace of the seedlings. Nearly all of the seedlings (80–100%) developed into properly growing plants. Out of 10 parental combinations tested, 7 produced the F₁ offspring. The obtained plants varied in the shape, size, and color of their flowers. A total of eight new phenotypes were found, among which six new cultivars granted plant breeders’ rights, so far. The present research expands knowledge on how effective crossing should be performed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Seed Germination and Micropropagation of Ornamental Plants)

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14 pages, 1467 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Vitro Germination and Propagation of Dyckia brevifolia, An Ornamental and Endangered Bromeliad

by Konstantinos Bertsouklis and Konstantina-Panagiota Panagaki

Horticulturae 2022, 8(5), 390; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8050390 - 28 Apr 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3390

Abstract

Dyckia brevifolia is an endangered plant used for ornamental purposes. As no references to the in vitro propagation of the species exist, the present study aims at investigating the possibility of an efficient micropropagation protocol. Seeds collected from mother plants were germinated at high percentages (84–86%) at a range of 15–25 °C, without any pre-treatment, and demonstrated their highest germination speed index (191.51) at 25 °C. In vitro-grown seedlings were used as the starting material for micropropagation on solid, or liquid, MS medium, supplemented with a variety of concentrations of cytokinins (BA, KIN or 2IP). Shoots and leaves were used as starting explants. Liquid media supplemented with BA or 2IP at 1.0 mg L⁻¹ led to high multiplication rate and 2.7, or 2.3, lateral shoots were regenerated while on 2IP a high percentage (77.5%) of rooting occurred at the same time. Rooted microshoots were acclimatised ex vitro at 100% and acclimatised plants were transplanted in pots where they grew with a survival rate of 100% after two months. The in vitro propagation protocol presented in this study could enhance the large-scale propagation use of D. brevifolia as an ornamental plant and, simultaneously, contribute to the ex-situ conservation of the species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Seed Germination and Micropropagation of Ornamental Plants)

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14 pages, 1734 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thidiazuron Induced In Vitro Clonal Propagation of Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers.—An Important Avenue Tree

by Naseem Ahmad, Mohammad Faisal, Anees Ahmad, Abdulrahman A. Alatar, Ahmed A. Qahtan and Anshu Alok

Horticulturae 2022, 8(5), 359; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8050359 - 20 Apr 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3268

Abstract

A high throughput regeneration protocol has been developed for Lagerstroemia speciosa through node explants under the regime of various plant growth regulators (PGRs). This protocol can provide an alternative mode to seed-grown plants and minimize the cost–time of regeneration, significantly. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing various combinations of PGRs exhibited a marked stimulatory effect on morphogenesis. Of the various combinations tried, node explant pretreated with thidiazuron (TDZ; 5.0 µM) for 4 weeks and followed with transfer into MS medium containing 1.0 μM 6-benzyladenine (BA) and 0.25 μM α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) was reported to be the best treatment as it resulted in a maximum number of 24.5 shoots with an average shoot length of 7.1 cm per explant in 90% of cultures after 12 weeks of incubation. The in vitro-generated shoots rooted satisfactorily in the adopted ex vitro method of rooting, which saves time and cost. Among the different treatments, the greatest rooting percentage (85%) was observed in the 200 μM IBA-treated shoots, with the highest root number (8.7) and length (3.4 cm) occurring after 4 weeks. Four months after being transferred to ex vitro, some of the physiological attributes of the in vitro-propagated plants were examined and compared to the ex vitro plants. Further, analysis of the genetic integrity in tissue culture-raised plantlets along with the parental tree was accomplished through DNA-based RAPD technique. The monomorphic banding pattern obtained by the RAPD primers resulted in a high level of genetic uniformity in regenerated plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Seed Germination and Micropropagation of Ornamental Plants)

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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

19 pages, 7359 KiB

Open AccessReview

Seed Germination within Genus Rosa: The Complexity of the Process and Influencing Factors

by Roxana L. Stoian-Dod, Catalina Dan, Irina M. Morar, Adriana F. Sestras, Alina M. Truta, Gabriela Roman and Radu E. Sestras

Horticulturae 2023, 9(8), 914; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9080914 - 10 Aug 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4186

Abstract

Seed germination is a crucial stage in the life cycle of plants, and understanding the factors influencing germination is essential for successful cultivation, plant breeding, and conservation efforts. The genus Rosa, commonly known as roses, encompasses a diverse group of flowering plants renowned for their beauty and fragrance. Rosa germination is influenced by a variety of factors, including seed dormancy, environmental conditions, and seed treatments. Many Rosa species exhibit different types of seed dormancy, such as physical dormancy caused by hard seed coats and physiological dormancy due to internal mechanisms. Overcoming seed dormancy often requires specific treatments, including cold stratification, scarification, or chemical treatments, to promote germination. Environmental factors, including temperature, moisture, light, and substrate, play vital roles in Rosa germination. Temperatures ranging from 15 to 25 °C, moisture, and exposure to light or darkness, depending on the species, constitute suitable conditions for seed germination. Many studies have been conducted to investigate the germination requirements of different Rosa species, thereby expanding our understanding of their propagation and conservation. Additionally, advancements in techniques such as in vitro germination and molecular approaches have further enhanced our understanding of Rosa germination biology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Seed Germination and Micropropagation of Ornamental Plants)

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