Physiological characterization and true-to-typeness evaluation of in vitro and ex vitro seedlings of Pinus elliottii: A contribution to breeding programs

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2016

Authors

Maria da Conceição Santos (Author) FCUP; et al (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Plant Physiology and Biochemistry

Vol. 107

Pages: 222-227

ISSN: 0981-9428

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 10 Citations

Scopus - 9 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00K-J2V

DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2016.05.039

Abstract (EN): Pinus elliottii var. elliottii is a pine species with enormous economic value particularly for timber and resin industries, and is subject of high pressure for genetic improvement and cloning elite genotypes. We have recently developed a robust micropropagation protocol for this species. Plantlets performance needs to be evaluated to validate this protocol for further mass propagation. Micropropagated plantlets and seed derived plants with similar age and shoot length were compared regarding photosynthesis, carbohydrates and pigments content, water status, DNA content and cell cycle dynamics. Micropropagated plantlets had an overall physiological performance similar to seed-derived plants. In particular, except for the transpiration rate (E), CO2 assimilation rate (A) and total soluble sugars (TSS) content, no major differences between plantlets and seedlings in terms of relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll a fluorescence and pigments content were found. Genetic fidelity analyses support that the micro propagation protocol neither induce DNA content changes nor alterations in cell cycle dynamics.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6