Published in Scientific Bulletin. Series F. Biotechnologies, Vol. XXVIII, Issue 2
Written by Ioana-Cătălina NICOLAE, Oana VENAT, Adrian George PETICILĂ, Dorel HOZA
Solanum tuberosum is one of the most economically important species for food consumption. Because the species is susceptible to various systemic pathogens, in vitro techniques are preferred for storing the germplasm. Synthetic seed technology can be a useful tool in plant conservation, as it combines the advantages of vegetative and generative propagation. Using this technology, in combination with salicylic acid, a plant growth regulator known to mediate the plant response to cold temperatures, this study aims to enhance the tolerance of Solanum tuberosum explants to cold temperatures during in vitro storage. Nodal segments and shoot tips obtained from in vitro cultures of Solanum tuberosum 'Salad Blue’ were encapsulated in sodium alginate solutions containing different concentrations of salicylic acid (0; 25 µM, 50 µM, and 75 µM) and stored at 4°C and under dark conditions for 60 days. Synthetic seeds were inoculated on a regeneration medium with 0.3 mg/L IAA and different concentrations of BAP (2 mg/L, 3 mg/L, and 4 mg/L). Even though the growth regulators in the culture medium did not influence the regeneration capacity of the explants, supplementing the alginate matrix with 25 µM salicylic acid increased the storage capacity of the encapsulated explants.
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