Ontogenic variations in n-alkanes during somatic embryogenesis of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.)

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2001

Authors

Cunha, AC (Author) Other; Fernandes Ferreira, M (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Plant Science

Vol. 160

Pages: 1137-1143

ISSN: 0168-9452

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 4 Citations

Scopus - 6 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Biological sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-000-VRE

DOI: 10.1016/s0168-9452(01)00358-2

Abstract (EN): Hypocotyl segments (HS) of flax seedlings germinated in vitro, were used to induce indirect somatic embryogenesis on solid medium. The composition and distribution of il-alkanes in flax tissues collected at different developmental stages were studied by capillary gas chromatography (GC) and capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). During induction and development of callus from hypocotyl tissues a decrease in the percentage of total lipids was observed. In all types of tissue sampled - PIS used as primary explants, HS with differentiating calli at the cut ends (HSC), embryogenic (EC) and non-embryogenic calli (NEC) and somatic embryos (SE) - a skewed-normal distribution of n-alkanes with a low mass range (C-13-C-21) were found. The highest content of n-alkanes occurred in the primary hypocotyl explants and in the early stages of callus development. Longer carbon chain n-alkanes were observed only in the mature or differentiated tissues of hypocotyls and SE. Although the n-alkane contents decreased with time, in SE and calli, a significantly lower n-alkane content was observed in EC when compared to NEC independent of the time in culture. These results suggest the utilisation of n-alkanes for heterotrophic cellular growth as well as its mobilisation from EC to developing SE.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7