Biotechnology and genetics
Tofigh Taherkhani; Rasool Asghari Zakaria; Mansoor Omidi; Nasser Zare; mahboubeh taherkhani
Abstract
Saffron (Crocus sativus) as an important medicinal and economical plant of Iran is rich in flavor, aroma and color, along with medicinal properties in addition to nutritional benefits. The effect of chitosan on Crocin and Safranal amounts as two important medicinal components and expression of their ...
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Saffron (Crocus sativus) as an important medicinal and economical plant of Iran is rich in flavor, aroma and color, along with medicinal properties in addition to nutritional benefits. The effect of chitosan on Crocin and Safranal amounts as two important medicinal components and expression of their controlling genes in suspension culture of saffron was subjected as the aim of this study. For this purpose, saffron bulbs were cultured in ½ MS medium being treated with 100 and 150 mg/l of chitosan under cell suspension medium and callus optimal growth conditions. Samples were taken at 24 and 72 hours after the application of treatment in 3 replications. Measurement of secondary metabolites was done with HPLC and analysis of genes’ expression was performed with real-time PCR. The results showed that after the use of 100 and 150 mg/l of chitosan and after 24 and 72 hours, the two CsLYC and CsGT-2 genes expression significantly increased. Also, the results showed that Safranal and Crocin levels by the use of chitosan are significantly different at both harvesting times, so that 150 mg/l at harvest time of 72 hours after application of the treatment had the highest amount of Crocin and Safranal. Usage of chitosan as a bio-stimulant in the growth of medicinal and economic plants of saffron increased the amount of valuable secondary metabolites in the cell suspension culture of the plant.
Biotechnology and genetics
Fariba Afkhami; Nasser Zare; Rasool Asghari; Mohammad Mehdizadeh; Behnam Firoozi
Abstract
Saffron is one of the most important pharmaceutical plants in the world due to its valuable secondary metabolites. The aim of this study is to investigate the different factors on callus induction and growth in saffron corm explants. In the first experiment, saffron corms surface were sterilized and ...
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Saffron is one of the most important pharmaceutical plants in the world due to its valuable secondary metabolites. The aim of this study is to investigate the different factors on callus induction and growth in saffron corm explants. In the first experiment, saffron corms surface were sterilized and were excised to equal segments, then they were treated with ultrasound and then they were cultured on MS medium supplemented with 2 mg.L-1 auxin (NAA and 2,4-D) and 0.5 mg.L-1 Kinetin. In the second experiment, the effect of temperature, light and chitosan were evaluated. The results of analysis of variance showed that there were significant differences (P≤0.05) among temperature, light, chitosan as well as ultrasound treatments in terms of callus induction percentage and fresh weight of callus. Callus induction and growth on MS medium containing 2 mg.L-1 NAA + 0.5 mg.L-1 Kin was higher than those containing 2 mg.L-1 2,4-D +0.5 mg.L-1 Kin. In MS medium containing 2,4-D which had low callus induction and callus growth rate, utilization of ultrasound stimulated callus induction and especially it stimulated callus growth from saffron corm explants. In addition, in MS medium containing 2,4-D, utilization of 0.25 g.L-1 chitosan stimulated callus induction and increased callus induction of saffron corm explants. However, increasing chitosan concentration from 0.25 mg.L-1 to 0.75 g.L-1 decreased callus induction and callus growth, while, in MS medium containing NAA, which had efficient callus induction and growth, utilization of these treatments reduced callus induction and callus growth from saffron corm explants. In other words, the effect of ultrasound and chitosan on response of saffron explants in vitro cultures was used, depending on the type of auxin used in composition of the culture medium. Generally, the highest percentage of callus induction occurred on MS medium supplemented with 2 mg.L-1 NAA + 0.5 mg.L-1 Kin and incubated at 25 ºC in the dark, which could be suitable for in vitro culture and gene transfer studies in saffron.