Abstract:
Objective To develop a high-efficiency regeneration system for leaves of in vitro P. x euramericana 'Bofeng 3 hao' plants using 5-aminouracil (5-AU) and dark culture treatments, providing a robust foundation for genetic transformation and gene editing in poplars.
Methods In this study, wounded leaves of P. x euramericana 'Bofeng 3 hao' were cultured on differentiation media supplemented with different concentrations of 5-AU(0.4, 0.8, 1.6, and 3.2 mmol·L−1), dark cultured for 6 h to 6 d, and then transferred to 5-AU-free differentiation media under photoperiodic culture. To evaluate the effects of 5-AU concentration and dark culture duration on the regeneration system of in vitro leaves, key regeneration parameters-including leaf differentiation rate, the number of buds and root induction efficiency were statistically analyzed. The optimal regeneration system was determined via membership function-based comprehensive evaluation.
Results Compared with the control treatments, the application of 0.4 to 3.2 mmol·L−1 5-AU combined with 12 h to 3 d dark incubation shortened the adventitious shoot regeneration time by 2 to 3days. Extending the dark incubation to 4–6 days further reduced the regeneration time by 4 to 5 days. Two-way ANOVA analysis revealed highly significant effects of both 5-AU concentration and dark incubation duration on leaf differentiation rate (p < 0.01), bud regeneration capacity (p < 0.01) and root induction efficiency (p < 0.01). Moreover, the interaction between 5-AU concentration and dark incubation significantly enhanced bud formation (p < 0.05) and root induction (p < 0.01). According to membership function analysis, the 3.2 mmol·L−1 5-AU with 2 d dark incubation was the best treatment for plant regeneration of P. x euramericana 'Bofeng 3 hao' in vitro leaves of plants, yielding 100% leaf differentiation rate, 36 buds per explant, and 96.65% root induction rate.
Conclusion 5-AU supplementation and dark culture treatments synergistically promoted precocious leaf differentiation, enhanced bud proliferation, and improved root induction of in vitro leaves of P. x euramericana 'Bofeng 3 hao'. This highly efficient plant regeneration system not only provides a critical technical foundation for genetic transformation and genome editing of P. x euramericana 'Bofeng 3 hao', but also provides a valuable methodology for tissue culture and plant regeneration studies in other woody species.