Abstract
Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) embryo maturation in vitro was achieved in B5 medium without growth regulators. Immature embryos were collected at different developmental stages 4–168 h after pollination. Only a few plantlets were obtained from ovules collected shortly after pollination since the embryos at these early stages developed abnormal leaves and roots which regenerated shoots ‘via’ organogenesis. Zygotic embryos collected 24–72 h after pollination needed one month of culture in vitro before acclimation. Embryos collected at the heart or early torpedo stage of development (three days after pollination) produced green plantlets after two weeks of in vitro culture and thus they could be transferred to the greenhouse for acclimation. Culture of zygotic embryos in vitro has shown to be a suitable technique to accelerate the breeding process in biennial cultivated Italian red chicory. In fact it is possible to obtain plantlets ready for performing the selection for the desired agronomic traits one month after pollination. Since flowering occurs after vernalization, the selection can be performed in the correct season before flowering.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Gamborg OL, Miller RA & Ojima K (1968) Nutrient requirements of suspension cultures of soybean root cells. J. Exp. Res. 50: 151–158
Gianquinto G & Pimpini F (1995) Morphological and physiological aspects of phase transition in radicchio (Cichorium intybus L. var. silvestre Bischoff): the influence of temperature. Adv. Hort. Sci. 9: 192–199
Gianquinto G (1997) Morphological and physiological aspects of phase transition in radicchio (Cichorium intybus L. var. silvestre Bisch.): influence of daylength and its interaction with low temperature. Sci. Hort. 71: 13–26
Helleboid S, Bauw G, Belingheri L, Vasseur J & Hilbert JL (1998) Extracellular beta-1,3-glucanases are induced during early somatic embryogenesis in Cichorium. Planta 205: 56–63
Morel G & Wetmore RR (1951) Fern callus tissue culture. Amer. J. Bot. 38: 141–143
Sharma HC (1999) Embryo rescue following wide crosses. Plant Cell Cult. Protoc. 111: 293–307
Varotto S, Pizzoli L, Lucchin M & Parrini P (1995) The incompatibility system in Italian red chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) Plant Breed. 114: 535–538
Varotto S, Lucchin M & Parrini P (1997) Plant regeneration from protoplasts of Italian red chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) J. Genet. Breed. 51: 17–22
Wu Y, Haberland G, Zhou C & Koop HU (1992) Somatic embryogenesis formation of morphogenetic callus and normal development in zygotic embryos of Arabidopsis thaliana in vitro. Protoplasma 169: 89–96
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Varotto, S., Lucchin, M. & Parrini, P. Immature embryos culture in Italian red chicory. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture 62, 75–77 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006468229414
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006468229414