In Vitro Indirect Somatic Embryogenesis and Secondary Metabolites Production in the Saffon: Emphasis on Ultrasound and Plant Growth Regulators

Abstract

In the present study, the effcts of ultrasound and plant growth regulators on in vitro callogenesis and secondarymetabolites production in saffon calli were investigated. Accordingly, the saffon corms surface sterilized, sonicatedand cultured on diffrent concentrations of plant growth regulators (0.5, 1, 2 and 4 mg L-1 2,4-D or NAA in combinationwith 0.5 and 1 mg L-1 Kin or BAP). The percentage of callus induction, callus yield (fresh weight) and embryogeniccallus formation were recorded and secondary metabolites of calli were measured by UV/VIS spectrophotometer threemonths after culture. The results indicated that sonication of the saffon corm explants signifiantly increased the in vitrocallus induction and growth. So, the highest callus induction (100%) and yield (4.68 g) was achieved with sonicatedexplants cultured on MS medium supplemented with 2 mg L-1 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 0.5 mg L-1 kinetin(Kin). Somatic embryogenesis was signifiantly inflenced by plant growth regulator regimes and the MS mediumsupplemented with 0.5 mg L-1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) plus 0.5 mg L-1 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and0.5 mg L-1 NAA plus 0.5 mg L-1 Kin exhibited the highest percentage (75 and 72, respectively) of somatic embryogenesis.Secondary metabolite content of the callus cells was signifiantly diffrent among the plant growth regulator regimes andthe highest production of picrocrocin and safranal were occurred on the medium containing 0.5 mg L-1 2,4-D plus 0.5 mgL-1 BAP and 1 mg L-1 NAA plus 1 mg L-1 BAP.