Application of Tissue Culture in Afforestation and Wasteland Development: a Mini Review

Research in Plant Biology, 2(4): 01-07, 2012 ISSN : 2231-5101 www.resplantbiol.com

Review Article Application of tissue culture in afforestation and wasteland development: A mini review

Padikara Kutty Satheeshkumar

Centre for Bioseparation Technology, VIT University, Vellore 632014, Tamil Nadu, India E-mail address: [email protected]

Population growth influences the environmental balance in multiple ways. The alarming rate with which the forest cover getting disappeared from the earth makes decisive menace to the living world. The present century witness a number of initiatives to protect the existing vegetation and to improve the green mass through tree plantation programmes. Compared to any other group of plants, trees possess some unique features like, perennial nature and robust physiological mechanisms, which help them to survive in adverse conditions. To employ trees in afforestation and waste land development programmes needs a continuous supply of huge number of plantlets, which will be possible only through in vitro propagation methods. This review focused on the advancement in the area of in vitro propagation of trees mainly used in afforestation and wasteland development programmes.

Keywords: In vitro propagation, woody trees, afforestation.

1. Introduction: for in vitro propagation, there is considerable Unpredictable and hazardous changes development in this field during the past few happening in the climatic conditions all over decades. In general most of the in vitro the globe indicate the existence of an propagation studies were carried out on tree imbalanced equilibrium in terms of the species of agronomic or economic importance destructive and constructive phenomenon. like fruit trees, medicinal trees, ornamental As the population increases, the exploitation trees and trees for wood and paper industry of natural resources also increases. This may (McDonnel et al., 2010). In vitro techniques lead to severe consequences, if the like anther culture, embryo culture and equilibrium is not restored. With the meristem culture have been used for specific elaboration of domestic existence to the land, applications like production of haploids, the forest cover is disappearing in an shortening of breeding cycle, to overcome alarming rate. As an option to regain, at least dormancy, recovery of plants from intra- partially the forest cover, extensive specific crosses, production of virus free programmes are being planned world wide. plants, somatic cell hybridization etc. There Compared to any small plants, trees hold the are nearly 40 media formulations used major stake in these programmes. In order to successfully for the in vitro propagation of supply huge number of plantlets in these different tree species. The recalcitrant nature programmes, well established in vitro of the explants from many of the tree species propagation machinery is needed. has been modified to convert them to Even though, tree species are totipotent cells made way to multiply those considered to be the toughest group of plants using in vitro techniques (Bonga et al., 2010). Satheeshkumar / Research in Plant Biology, 2(4): 01-07, 2012

Table 1. Few reports on the tissue culture studies on trees used for afforestation and wasteland development. Tree species Explant Media & Effect Reference Phytohormone(s) Acacia Phyllode MS+TDZ+NAA Green nodules- Yang et al., 2006 crascycarpa shoots 1/2MS+IBA Rooting MS+ BAP+ Zeatin Multiple shoots A. senegal Nodal segments Badji et al., (1993) Modified JN+ NAA Rooting B5+ BAP+ Multiple shoots Dewan et al., (1992) A. nilotica Cotyledonary nodes Kin/Zeatin B5+ IAA Rooting A.nilotica Epicotyl seedlings NAA+BA+GA Shoot Samake et al., 2011 regeneration IBA Rooting Litsea cubeba MS+ BAP/ Multiple shoots Mao et al., (2000) Shoot tip/ nodal/ WPM/BAP leaf/petiole MS basal Rooting Casuarina Epicotyl segments MS+BA Shoot formation Shen et al., 2009 hybrid MS+IBA Rooting C. equisetifolia Axillary shoot s MS+NAA+BAP Multiple shoots Satheeshkumar et al., MS+IBA Rooting 2009 Eucalyptus Nodal MS+BA+2,4-D Shoot Aggarwal et al., 2010 tereticornis proliferation E. camaldulensis Cotyledon, ZE MS+NAA Calli Prakash and MS+ NAA+BA Indirect SE Gurumurthy, 2010 MS+BA Direct SE MS+BAP+NAA Adventitious Detrez et al., (1994) Sesbania Cotyledon shoots grandiflora MS+ NAA Rooting Robinia Protoplast (callus WPM+NAA+BAP Calli Kanwar et al., 2009 pseudoacacia and meshphyll) MS+NAA+BAP Shoots MS+IBA Rooting R. ambigua Axillary buds MS+BA+NAA+GA Bud induction Guo et al., 2006 1/4MS+IAA+IBA Rooting R. psuedoacacia Immature seeds MS+ 2,4-D+BAP Arrillaga et al., (1994) Immature SE Vahdati et al., 2008 Juglans regia DKW+ABA cotyledons Alnus Epicotyl and WPM+ BAP Shoots Tang et al., 1996 cremastogyne hypocotyl WPM basal/ +IBA Rooting A. glutinosa Apical shoots WPM+BAP Shoot Lall et al., 2005 multiplication

Abbreviations used: 2, 4-D- 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid, IAA- Indole-3-acetic acid, IBA- Indole-3-butyric acid, NAA- Naphthalene acetic acid, S.E- Somatic embryogenesis, MS- Murashige and Skoog’s (1962) nutrient medium, B5- Gamborg’s medium (Gamborg et al., 1968), JN-Jordan’s medium (Jordan et al., 1979), GA3- Gibberellic acid, ABA- Abscisic acid, BAP-6-benzyl amino purine, TDZ- Thiadiazuron, WPM, Woody plant medium (Loyd and McCown,1981), DKW –Driver and Kuniyuki medium (Driver and Kuniyuki, 1984), Kin-Kinetin.

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2. In vitro propagation: Another reports from the research groups, Trees are being used for the Garton et al., 1981; Perinet and Lalonde, 1983; afforestation and wasteland development Tremblay and Lalonde, 1984, Lall et al., 2005 programmes, mainly because of their robust etc also showed successful in vitro plant survival mechanisms in adverse conditions. regeneration in different species of Alnus. Most of the trees used for this purpose belong to the family Leguminosae or those having 2b. Robinia: the property of fixing atmospheric nitrogen to Among different species of Robinia, increase the soil fertility (Detrez et al., 1994). Robinia psuedoacacia (Black locust) is the one The in vitro multiplication programmes on underwent much investigations related to in these tree species have been given priority in vitro propagation (Kanwar et al., 2009). Black many of the government funded projects to locust is considered for its potential use in have enough saplings for plantation in the environmental restoration. It is widely valued deforested areas. Important afforestation tree for reclamation of sites which are difficult to species include Alnus sps, Robinia sps, restore for vegetative cover, such as surface Eucalyptus sps, Acacia sps, Sesbania sps, Litsea mined lands, mine waste dumps, smelter sps, Casuarina sps, Leucaena sps and Juglans soils, seaboards etc (Han and Park, 1999). sps (Table-1). Black locust's rapidly developing root system stabilizes the soil and increases soil 2a. Alnus: permeability. Plant regeneration of Robinia Alnus is a genus (common name- sps has been reported from leaf discs, cambial Alder) belonging to the birch family tissue, shoot tips seedling derived callus etc (Betulaceae) composed of 30 species. The (Davis and Keathley, 1985, Arrillaga et al., plants are known for its medicinal properties 1995, Guo et al., 2006, Chalupa, 1983). and are being used in the traditional medical Auxillary buds and nodal segments were also practices. Alnus sps inhabits the N2 fixing been used for this purpose. In many of the filamentous ascomycetean fungi, Frankia alni, cases a modified Murashigue and Skoog in its root system, which forms root nodules, (MS), Litvey medium or WPM was used (Han sometimes as big as a human fist. Because of and Park, 1999). Han and Keathly reported the N2 fixing properties these plants have the isolation and culture of protoplasts from been employed in the tree plantations the calli derived explants of R. psuedoacacia extensively. Tang et al reported the in vitro (Han and Keathly, 1998). propagation of Alnus cremastogyne using WPM (Woody Plant Medium) supplemented 2c. Eucalyptus: with BAP (Benzylaminopurine) (callus Eucalyptus sps are used extensively in /regeneration) and IBA (Indole butyric acid) the afforestation programmes due to its (rooting). Epicotyl and hypocotyls explants highly adaptable nature under varied were found to be efficient in giving an environmental conditions. The physiological indirect plantlet formation (Tang et al., 1996). peculiarities make these plants utilize the Another species, Alnus glutinosa was nutrients from a highly adverse environment. propagated in vitro from shoot tip explants. In vitro propagation methods for different Multiple shoots induced with BAP in species of Eucalyptus have been reported combination with 1-N- naphthylphthalamic earlier (Gupta and Mascarenhas, 1987). acid (NPA) and 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid Muralidharan et al used long term callus (TIBA), was rooted when transferred to WPM cultures of E. citriodora to induce somatic basal medium without any phytohormones. embryogenesis using Gamborg’s B5 medium

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supplemented with NAA, glutamine and the plant regeneration from phyllode casein hydrolysates. A hormone free medium explants cultured on MS media induced rooting and the plants were survived supplemented with different combination of in soil (Muralidharan et al., 1989). Subbaiah NAA and TDZ (Yang et al., 2006). and Minocha used leaf and stem explants to induce multiple shoots using B5 medium 2e. Casuarina: with BA and NAA (0.1 and 5mg/l Genus Casuarina is indigenous to respectively). Hypocotyl segments induced north and north east Australia, some pacific roots when cultured on B5 medium islands and from Indonesia and Malaya to containing BA. Shoots were rooted on a India and Srilanka. These monaceous or modified WPM medium containing IBA dioecious trees belong to the family (Subbaiah and Minocha, 1990). Other species Casuarinaceae, mainly propagated by seeds. like E. marginata, E. camaldulensis, E. leichow, Vegetative propagation by means of cuttings E. sideroxylon etc also were reported to be or gootee, air-layering of lower side of propagated through in vitro methods (Benet branches was also reported to be successful. and McComb, 1982, Burger 1987, Casuarina sps are used commonly for the Muralidharan and Mascarenhas, 1987). Two afforestation programmes due to the recent reports on the in vitro propagation of following facts. It grows in a wide range of Eucalyptus sps (Prakash and Gurumurthi, soils from volcanic, sandy to compact clay 2010, E. camaldulensis, Aggarwal et al., 2010, E. (Kondas S, 1983) and can tolerate water terecticornis) used MS medium with different logging, saline and drought conditions (NAS, combinations of phytohormones to establish 1984, Djogo, 1989). It is an actinorhizal woody a regeneration protocol. plant, fix atmospheric nitrogen when nodulated by an ascomycete known as 2d. Acacia: Frankia (Diem et al., 1982). The traditional Leguminous trees are significant seed propagation usually results in plantlets components in any afforestation or wasteland exhibit inbreeding depression. It is very development programmes due to their important to have suitable in vitro plant property to restore soil fertility through regeneration protocol to propagate superior atmospheric nitrogen fixation. Since the biotypes to have a continuous supply of regeneration rate of leguminous trees are healthy and vigorous plantlets. Only a few very low in nature, it is essential to find ways studies on in vitro propagation of Casuarina to multiply them. There are many reports on have been reported due to its recalcitrant the in vitro propagation of Acacia species like, nature (Duhoux et al. 1986; Parthiban et al. A. koa (Skolmen and Mapes, 1976), A. Senegal 1997; Seth et al. 2007, Satheeshkumar et al, (Dave et al., 1980), A. albida (Dohoux and 2009, Shen et al, 2009). Shoot tips, needles, Davis, 1985), A. catechu (Kaur et al., 1998, axillary buds and cotyledonary explants were Kulneet and Kant, 2000), A. nilotica (Dewan et used to develop in vitro propagation al., 1991, Samake et al., 2011), A. chundra (Rout protocols. Satheeshkumar et al used axillary et al., 2008), A. mearnsii (Sascha et al., 1998) etc. shoots developed aseptically to induce Cotyledonary explants are used widely as the organogenesis through callusing under MS starting material for tissue culture along with medium supplemented with BAP and IAA. other sources like shoot tip, immature The shoots were rooted with NAA or IAA. A embryos and phyllodes. MS or B5 medium Casuarina hybrid, (Casuarina equisetifolia L. x with phytohormone combinations found to Casuarina glauca, Sieber ex Spreng) was given be capable of inducing organogenesis in multiple shoot induction when seeds were many of the Acacia sps. Yang et al reported cultured on MS medium with different

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concentrations of BA. The shoots were rooted 4. References: on IBA containing media (Shen et al., 2009). Aggarwal, D, Anil, K, Sudhakara, RM. 2010. Shoot organogenesis in elite clones of 2f. Other plants: Eucalyptus tereticornis. Plant Cell Tiss. There are other tree species employed Organ Cult.102:45–52 in the afforestation programmes also studied Arrillaga, I, Tobolski, JJ, Merkle, SA. 1994. extensively to establish in vitro plant Advances in somatic embryogenesis and regeneration protocols. They include Sesbania plant production of black locust (Robinia sps (Subhan et al., 1998), Litsea sps (Mao et al., pseudoacacia L.). Plant Cell Rep. 13: 171- 2000, Chongjian et al., 2005), Leucaena 175 leucocephala (Jube and Borthakur, 2010) etc Bennet, IJ, McComb, JA. 1982. Propagation of (Table-1). One of the major problems faced Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) by organ during the acclimatization process of the and tissue culture. Aust. For. Res. 12: 121- leguminous plantlets in the green houses was 127 that, those which were having a natural Bonga, JM, Klimaszewska, KK, Von-Adrekas, symbiotic partner like Alnus, Robinia and P. 2010. Recalcitrance in clonal Casuarina failed to survive in the green house propagation, in particular of conifers. pots (Subhan et al., 1998, McClusky and Plant Cell Tiss. Organ Cult. 100: 241-254 Fisher, 1986, Arrillaga et al., 1994). It was Burger, DW. 1987. In vitro micropropagation observed that once the microorganisms were of Eucalyptus sideroxylon. Hort. Sci. 22: inoculated in the soil, it colonized in the root 496-497 system and helped the plantlets to grow Chalupa, V. 1983. In vitro propagation of normally. Willows (Salix spp.), European mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia L.) and black 3. Conclusions: locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.). Biol. With the advent of newer Plant. 25: 305–307 technologies, the scientific knowledge on Chong-jian, M, Yan-min, D. 2005. Culture of plant development and the factors controlling the Litsea cubeba of buds. Guangxi different aspects of development has been Sciences.12 (2): 156–157. (In Chinese) increased. This has opened up new avenues Dave, VS, Goyal, Y, Vaishnava, GR. Surana, to improve the existing protocols of plant NM. Arya, HC. 1980. Clonal propagation propagation through in vitro methods. Tissue of desert plants through tissue culture. culture experiments holds great promise to III. Plantlet formation in Acacia senegal the nature lovers as it supply a continuous stem culture. J Indian Bot. Soc. 59: 57 unlimited number of plantlets for the Davis, M, Keathley DE. 1985. Regeneration of afforestation programmes. Many of the shoots from leaf disk explants of black government agencies are funding to locust, Robinia pseudoacacia L. In Proc. 4th institutions focused of tree propagation North Central Tree Improvement including in vitro methods. With the ever Conference, East Lansing, MI. pp. 29-34. increased rate in which the forest cover is Michigan State University. getting disappeared from the earth, it is an Detrez, C, Ndiaye, S, Dreyfus, B. 1994. In vitro urgent call to restore at least a few percentage regeneration of the tropical multipurpose of the lost plantation to avoid severe climatic leguminous tree Sesbania grandiflora from changes, which may become detrimental to cotyledon explants. Plant Cell Rep. 14: 87- the existence of living beings. 93 Dewan, A, Nanda, K, Gupta, SC. 1992. In vitro micropropagation of Acacia nilotica

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