In Vitro Culture and Phytochemical Analysis of Passiflora tenuifila Killip and Passiflora setacea DC (Passifloraceae)

Abstract

We have developed reproducible micropropagation, callus culture, phytochemical, and antioxidant analysis protocols for the wild passion fruit species P. tenuifila, and P. setacea, native to the Brazilian endangered biomes Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, and Caatinga, by using seeds and explants from seedlings and adult plants. Genotype and explant origin-linked differences are visible amongst the Passiflora species concerning callus production, total phenolics, and antioxidant activity. The protocols developed for screening phytochemicals and antioxidants in P. tenuifila and P. setacea callus extracts have shown their potential for phenolic production and antioxidant activity. The high level of phenolic compounds seems to account for the antioxidant activity of methanolic extracts of P. tenuifila derived from 45-day-old immature seed callus. The methanolic extracts of callus derived from P. setacea seedling leaf node and cotyledonary node explants have shown the highest antioxidant activity despite their lower content of phenolics, as compared to cotyledon callus extracts. The optimized micropropagation and callus culture protocols have great potential to use cell culture techniques for further vegetative propagation, in vitro germplasm conservation, and secondary metabolite production using biotic and abiotic elicitors.

Plant Regeneration Protocol for Recalcitrant Passionflower (Passiflora quadrangularis L.)

“…The first study was performed in 1966 on P. caerulea, using nodal explants as the initiation material [56]. Since then, studies showing various micropropagation techniques in Passiflora have been on the rise [22,29,39,42,[57][58][59][60][61]. All these studies show that organogenesis remains the main regeneration path for this species [53].…”

“…Nodal explants or leaf fragments are most often used as initiation explants. The initiation of other types of explants in a horizontal position has been recommended in P. tenuifila and P. setacea [58], and P. edulis [42].…”

“…For P. tenuifila and P. setacea species, the subculture medium contained 2.5 mg/L IBA and 2 g/L Phytagel. Subcultures were performed at 8 weeks, for 24 months without reducing the proliferation of shoots [58]. In the subculture of P. edulis shoots, changing the position of the explants in the subculture on fresh medium led to a decrease in the browning rate due to polyphenols [77].…”

Traditional Knowledge of açaí (Euterpe precatoria Mart. - Arecaceae) usage in the Sustainable Development Reserve - RDS Piagaçu Purus – Amazonas - Brazil

“…The national and international recognition of açaí, as a source of antioxidants makes it the target of investments and research, which grow every year and also makes it a reference within natural resources for new products and technologies, bringing forth the importance of antioxidant compounds that are present in a large part of the Brazilian flora (SOZO et al, 2016).…”

Estudo Prospectivo De Produtos E Processos Tecnológicos Com O Açaí (Euterpe Oleracea)

“…O reconhecimento nacional e internacional do açaí como fonte de antioxidantes, faz dele um alvo de investimento e pesquisas, que cresce cada ano e o torna também referência de uma fonte natural para novos produtos e tecnologias, trazendo a importância, principalmente, dos compostos antioxidantes que estão presentes em grande parte da flora brasileira como o cerrado (SOZO et al, 2016;TAKAO et al, 2015).…”