Effects of in vitro culture types on regeneration and acclimatization of yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.) from somatic embryos

Abstract

We compared germination efficiency for somatic embryos (SE) of Liriodendron tulipifera using semi-solid (SS), temporary immersion bioreactors (TIB), and continuous immersion bioreactors (CIB) to produce vigorous plants. The bioreactors were designed to be immersed in liquid media with plantlets with an adjustable immersion time. TIB and CIB improved germination rates up to 80.86% and 95.21%, respectively, however, CIB produced more hyperhydric plantlets than TIB. The height of plantlets in TIB was significantly higher than for those in CIB. Fresh weights of plantlets grown in CIB of were significantly lower than for those grown in TIB. The lowest chlorophyll concentration was found in in vitro plantlets from CIB. We examined abnormally developed leaves, stems, and apical zones of in vitro plantlets that were produced in CIB. Among the three types, SS showed the highest stomatal density and the shortest stomatal length in in vitro plantlets. After acclimatization, plants from CIB exhibited the lowest values in biomass, such as height, root collar diameter, leaf fresh weight, leaf length, leaf width, petiole length, petiole diameter, and leaf area. Photosynthesis and transpiration rates of ex vitro plants were not significantly different among the three culture types, but stomatal conductance was higher in TIB than in the SS and CIB. Therefore, the results suggest that TIB is the preferable bioreactor to improve in vitro plantlet regeneration of L. tulipifera. TIB-originated plants showed higher growth rate than SS and CIB after transferring to soil.