An evaluation of the role of cytokinins in the development of abnormal inflorescences in oil palms (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) regenerated from tissue culture

• Published in: Journal of plant growth regulation Vol. 14; no. 3
• Main Authors: Jones, L.H. (University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.), Hanke, D.E, Eeuwens, C.J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.09.1995
• Subjects: ADENINA; ADENINE; ANALISIS CUANTITATIVO; ANALYSE QUANTITATIVE; CITOQUININAS; COMPOSICION QUIMICA; COMPOSITION CHIMIQUE; CULTIVO DE TEJIDOS; CULTURE DE TISSU; CYTOKININE; ELAEIS GUINEENSIS; EMBRIONES VEGETALES; EMBRYON VEGETAL; GLUCOSIDE; GLUCOSIDOS; INFLORESCENCE; INFLORESCENCIAS; KINETINE; PLANTULAS; PLANTULE; QUINETINA; REGENERACION IN VITRO; REGENERATION IN VITRO; SUBSTANCE DE CROISSANCE VEGETALE; SUSTANCIAS DE CRECIMIENTO VEGETAL; TRASTORNOS DEL CRECIMIENTO; TROUBLE DE LA CROISSANCE; ZEATINA; ZEATINE
• ISSN: 0721-7595; 1435-8107
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00210915

Tissue cultures and regenerant plants from cell lines producing palms with normal and abnormal flowers were analyzed for cytokinin content and compared with zygotic embryos and seedlings. Immature inflorescences at the critical stage of flower development dissected from normal and abnormal palms were also analyzed. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/radioimmunoassay and HPLC/enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods were used over a period of several years to measure the isoprenoid cytokinins. The results of analyses of endogenous aromatic cytokinins, present at comparable levels, will be reported separately. Oil palm cultures and regenerant plants contained relatively high concentrations of the 9-glucosides of isopentenyladenine ([9G]iP) and zeatin ([9G]Z). The predominant biologically active isoprenoid cytokinin present was zeatin riboside ([9R]Z), with lesser amounts of isopentenyladenine (iP) and isopentenyladenosine ([9R]iP). There was evidence of small amounts of dihydrozeatin compounds, but high concentrations (mainly as dihydrozeatin-9-glucoside ([9G]DHZ)) were confined to the haustorium of the zygotic embryo. Callus tissue contained very low concentrations of cytokinin. Frequently only [9G]iP could be detected, at about 1 pmol.g-1 fresh weight, with [9R]Z at less than 0.05 pmol.g-1. In comparison, nodular embryogenic tissues in vitro contained between 30 and 1,500 pmol.g-1 of [9G]iP, 5-50 pmol.g-1 of [9G]Z, and up to 12 pmol.g-1 of [9R]Z. Shoots of regenerant plantlets and seedlings contained lower concentrations of [9G]iP (3-30 pmol.g-1), although this was still the predominant cytokinin. [9R]Z and [9G]Z were present at between 2 and 15 pmol.g-1, with iP at 1-5 pmol.g-1 and [9R]iP at between 1 and 12 pmol.g-1. Seedlings contained similar amounts with the exception of a lower [9G]iP content (5-10.pmol g-1) and more [9R]iP (10-20 pmol.g-1). Root tissues of ramets contained significantly higher concentrations of [9G]iP than shoots