Artificially Induced Polyploidization in Lobularia maritima (L.) Desv. and Its Effect on Morphological Traits

Abstract

<jats:p><jats:italic>Lobularia maritima</jats:italic> (L.) Desv. is an important ornamental plant. We investigated an efficient method to induce tetraploid plants of <jats:italic>L. maritima</jats:italic> (L.) Desv. by treating germinating seeds and apical growing points of seedlings with a range of concentrations of colchicine for different periods of time. Examination of the ploidy level by counting chromosome numbers at metaphase confirmed that the chromosome number of diploid plants was 2n = 2x = 24, whereas 2n = 4x = 48 was observed in tetraploid plants. The morphological characteristics of the diploid and colchicine-induced tetraploid plants were compared. Increases in the size of leaves, flowers, and stomata were observed in the tetraploid plants compared with the diploids. However, the stomatal density and plant height of the tetraploid plants were lower than for the diploid plants. This study presents the first report of autotetraploid plants of <jats:italic>L. maritima</jats:italic> (L.) Desv., and of the successful generation of tetraploid plants with improved ornamental traits by colchicine treatment.</jats:p>

Effects of In Vitro Polyploidization on Agronomic Characteristics and Fruit Carotenoid Content; Implications for Banana Genetic Improvement

“…Induced tetraploids were characterized by long curved leaves with weak petioles resulting in a drooping leaf habit or fallen/broken leaves, as previously observed in banana (Van Duren et al, 1996; Bakry et al, 2007; Do Amaral et al, 2015). Increased leaf size following polyploidization as a result of cell division and expansion has also been reported in several other plant species, with wide applications in the improvement of leaf size and flowers of ornamental plants (Huang et al, 2015; Tamayo-Ordóñez et al, 2016; Denaeghel et al, 2018; Parsons et al, 2019).…”

Characterization of a novel LmSAP gene promoter from Lobularia maritima: Tissue specificity and environmental stress responsiveness

“…Lobularia maritima (L.) Desv., is a diploid (2n = 24) herbaceous perennial and facultative halophyte belonging to the clade C of the family Brassicaceae, closely related to A . thaliana [ 47 ]. Transcripts from Lobularia share in average 90% identity with homologous genes from Arabidopsis [ 48 , 49 ].…”

A chromosome-scale reference genome of Lobularia maritima, an ornamental plant with high stress tolerance

“…Lobularia maritima (L.) Desv., commonly known as sweet alyssum, is a perennial and diploid (2n = 24) herbaceous plant of the family Brassicaceae. This ornamental plant naturally occurs in the western Mediterranean region and has been widely cultivated since its domestication 29 , 30 . Its flowers range in color from pale violet to deep purple 31 .…”

“…As a facultative halophyte closely related to Arabidopsis thaliana , L. maritima seems to be an ideal model for revealing the molecular mechanisms underlying plant tolerance to drought and salt stress 33 . However, studies of L. maritima have focused mainly on its cultivation, management and rapid propagation in vitro 29 .…”