Establishment ofAster sedifoliusandAster caucasicuscallus cultures as a potential source of antioxidants

Abstract

Callus cultures were established for Aster sedifolius and Aster caucasicus, two Aster species used in natural medicine for their anticancer, antibacterial and antiviral activities attributed to the high content of antioxidant compounds such as polyphenols and ascorbate. The effects of growth medium and light condition on the induction and growth rate of callus from leaf, petiole and root explants are reported. Callus induction and proliferation depended on the genotype and the experimental conditions. In particular, a profuse callus culture was obtained from leaf explants grown in the light on medium supplemented with 2,4-D (0.1 mg l 71 ) for A. caucasicus and on medium supplemented with 2,4-D (0.44 mg l 71 ) plus 6-benzil-ammino-purine (BAP) (0.22 mg l 71 ) for A. sedifolius. The content of total polyphenol and ascorbic acid was estimated in leaf and petiole explants of in vivo plants and in the relative derived calli. In calli, polyphenol content was lower than in the corresponding in vivo organs. Furthermore, the total ascorbic acid content decreased in calli while the reduced ascorbic acid pool increased. These findings demonstrate that Aster callus cultures produce antioxidant compounds and as such might be a model system to investigate the regulation and production of these important metabolites.

Ethylene glycol tetra-acetic acid and salicylic acid improve anti-oxidative ability of maize seedling leaves under heavy-metal and polyethylene glycol 6000-simulated drought stress

“…In recent years, it has become clear that heavy metal ions (especially divalent ions) exert striking toxic effects on plant growth and seedling development (Shao et al 2008;Manchanda & Garg 2011;Radoglou et al 2011;Xiao et al 2011;Minutolo et al 2012;Rahman et al 2012;Song et al 2012Song et al , 2013 Guo et al 2007;Shao et al 2008;Chao et al 2010;Bajguz 2011;Baldantoni et al 2011;Basile et al 2011;Doganlar & Atmaca 2011;Ippolito et al 2011;Manchanda & Garg 2011;Xiao et al 2011;Fellet et T P 2 T P 3 T P 4 T P 5 T P 6 T P 7 T P 8 T P 9 T P 1 0 T P 1 1 T P 1 2 T 0 ( C K ) T P 1 T P 2 T P 3 T P 4 T P 5 T P 6 T P 7 T P 8 T P 9 T P 1 0 T P 1 1 T P 1 2 T 0 ( C K ) T P 1 T P 2 T P 3 T P 4 T P 5 T P 6 T P 7 T P 8 T P 9 T P 1 0 T P 1 1 T P 1 2 T 0 ( C K ) T P 1 T P 2 T P 3 T P 4 T P 5 T P 6 T P 7 T P 8 T P 9 T P 1 0 T P 1 1 T P 1 2 The effects of EGTA and SA on MDA contents in seedling leaves under PEG treatments. Note: The different small and capital letters indicate significant difference among treatments at P , 0.05 and P , 0.01 levels, respectively.…”

“…Results from many researches indicate that CAT, POD, and SOD activities can be affected by many factors nonoptimal for plant growth and development (Shao et al 2008;Ippolito et al 2011;Manchanda & Garg 2011;Paciolla et al 2011;Minutolo et al 2012;Song et al 2012Song et al , 2013Garg & Bhandari 2013 Shao et al 2008;Manchanda & Garg 2011;Minutolo et al 2012;Rahman et al 2012;Song et al 2012Song et al , 2013Garg & Bhandari 2013). The accumulation of MDA in leave and root cells has long been considered as a sign of reduced stress resistance or tolerance or even plant damage.…”

“…Catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities have long been considered as important physiological indexes for determining the resistance or tolerance of plants to both biotic and abiotic stresses exerted by nonoptimal factors (Aganchich et al 2007;Guo et al 2007;Shao et al 2008;Basile et al 2011;Ippolito et al 2011;Manchanda & Garg 2011;Paciolla et al 2011;Minutolo et al 2012;Song et al 2012Song et al , 2013Garg & Bhandari 2013;Nogués et al 2013). Results from many researches indicate that CAT, POD, and SOD activities can be affected by many factors nonoptimal for plant growth and development (Shao et al 2008;Ippolito et al 2011;Manchanda & Garg 2011;Paciolla et al 2011;Minutolo et al 2012;Song et al 2012Song et al , 2013Garg & Bhandari 2013 Shao et al 2008;Manchanda & Garg 2011;Minutolo et al 2012;Rahman et al 2012;Song et al 2012Song et al , 2013Garg & Bhandari 2013).…”

“…Drought and water shortage also constitute severe threats to crop yield worldwide, posing a serious challenge to food security (Shao et al 2008;Minutolo et al 2012;Rahman et al 2012;Song et al 2012Song et al , 2013. Compared with other food crops, maize needs relatively large amounts of water in the process of its growth.…”

“…Heavy metal elements as Cd (cadmium), Hg (mercury), and Pb (lead) have long been considered highly toxic elements, which are difficult to remove from the soil. Results of many scientific researchers showed that Cd 2þ , Hg 2þ , and Pb 2þ can inhibit photosynthesis and transpiration in plants, thus interfering with plant metabolism and accelerating plant aging (Aganchich et al 2007;Guo et al 2007;Shao et al 2008;Chao et al 2010;Bajguz 2011;Baldantoni et al 2011;Basile et al 2011;Doganlar & Atmaca 2011;Ippolito et al 2011;Manchanda & Garg, 2011;Xiao et al 2011;Fellet et al 2012;Kalavrouziotis & Koukoulakis 2012;Minutolo et al 2012;Rahman et al 2012;Song et al 2012Song et al , 2013Alaimo et al 2013;Baker et al 2013;Garg & Bhandari 2013).…”