Co-Authors:
Tun, O.M., Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
Lipsky, A., Department of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, P.O.Box 6, Bet-Dagan, 50250, Israel
Luzzatto Knaan, T., Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
Kerem, Z., Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
Yedidia, I., Department of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, P.O.Box 6, Bet-Dagan, 50250, Israel
Abstract:
Benzothiadiazole (BTH) is a structural analogue of salicylic acid (SA) which is widely recognized for its role in elicitation of systemic acquired resistance in a broad range of plant species. Here, BTH was applied to cell cultures of the bulbous ornamental plants Ornithogalum dubium and O. thyrsoides, showing a strong effect on rates of differentiation and morphogenesis. Morphogenic cell clusters in liquid Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) were used for all treatments. The calluses were washed thoroughly and activated with increasing concentrations of BTH. Following the induction, calli were grown on a solid MS medium without growth regulators (MS) or on a comparable media with NAA and BAP (M-206). The calli treated with BTH displayed a dose dependent increase in formation of meristematic centres followed by enhanced shoot formation compared to controls. Microscopic analyses revealed increased differentiation to cell organelles and a strengthening of the cell wall. A stronger response to BTH was observed in MS than in M-206 medium. A similar effect on calli differentiation was obtained by three weeks darkness followed by light exposure. The dark/light positive effect on differentiation was further augmented by BTH in a synergistic fashion. It is suggested that BTH enhances the rates of morphogenesis in Ornithogalum cultures by triggering a plant regulator-like activity. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.