title: Developing a scale-up system for the micropropagation of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.): the effect of growth retardants, liquid culture and vessel size.
abstract: We investigated the effect of the growth retardant flurprimidol, the phase of the culture medium (solid versus liquid) and the size of the liquid culture vessel (250-ml flask versus 2.5-l airlift bioreactor) on the micropropagation of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) from nodal explants. Flurprimidol at concentrations of 0.1-2 mg l(-1) caused considerable growth retardation but increased, albeit slightly, the number of branches and buds and stimulated (solid medium) or reduced (liquid medium) the accumulation of NO(3)-and PO(4)(3-). Flurprimidol had varying effects on the accumulation of soluble sugars and antioxidant compounds. Bioreactor-derived plants showed an increased fresh weight and size but a decreased content of macronutrients, solid sugars, ascorbic acid and free antioxidant phenolics. The majority (95%) of the plants were successfully acclimatized after being graft on squash. The perspective for an efficient, commercial-level use of bioreactors in combination with growth retardants of this commercially important vegetable species is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Agricultural Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Konstas
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kintzios
mesh_terms: D000064:Acclimatization / Q000502:physiology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D019149:Bioreactors; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D018553:Cucumis sativus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology*; D003470:Culture Media / Q000494:pharmacology; D046508:Culture Techniques; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism; D010636:Phenols / Q000378:metabolism; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012038:Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D003470:Culture Media; D009566:Nitrates; D010636:Phenols; D010710:Phosphates; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D002118:Calcium