title: Improvement of in vitro embryo maturation, plantlet regeneration and transformation efficiency from alfalfa (Medicago sativaL.) somatic embryos usingCuscuta campestrisextract.
abstract: Developmental deficiency of somatic embryos and regeneration to plantlets, especially in the case of transformation, are major problems of somatic embryo regeneration in alfalfa. One of the ways to overcome these problems is the use of natural plant regulators and nutrients in the culture medium of somatic embryos. For investigating the influence ofCuscuta campestrisextract on the efficiency of plant regeneration and transformation, chimeric tissue type plasminogen activator was transferred to explants usingAgrobacterium tumefaciens, and transgenic plants were recovered using medium supplemented with different concentration of the extract. Transgenic plants were analyzed by PCR and RT-PCR. Somatic embryos ofMedicago sativaL. developed into plantlets at high frequency level (52 %) in the maturation medium supplemented with 50 mg 1-1C. campestrisextract as compared to the medium without extract (26 %). Transformation efficiency was 29.3 and 15.2 % for medium supplemented with dodder extract and without the extract, respectively. HPLC and GC/MS analysis of the extract indicated high level of ABA and some compounds such as Phytol, which can affect the somatic embryo maturation. The antibacterial assay showed that the extract was effective against some strains ofA. tumefaciens. These results have provided a scientific basis for using ofC. campestrisextract as a good natural source of antimicrobial agents and plant growth regulator as well, that can be used in tissue culture of transgenic plants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamadan, Iran.
authors.forename: Massoume
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amini
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamadan, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deljou
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal Plant Production, Nahavand University, Nahavand, Iran.
authors.forename: Haidar Saify
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Nabiabad
keywords: Cuscuta campestris extract; Embryo maturation; Medicago sativa L.; Somatic embryo