Iwona Zur
Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland
Title: Efficiency of the antioxidative system is the first prerequisite for effective doubled haploids production with the use of isolated microspore culture method
Biography
Biography: Iwona Zur
Abstract
The technology of doubled haploids as the fastest route to total homozygosity is highly appreciated in many domains of basic research
and breeding. Among several methods, the one using isolated and in vitro-cultured immature cells of male gametophyte induced
towards embryogenic development (microspore embryogenesis-ME) possesses the highest potential for commercial application.
However, effi cient ME induction requires a precisely balanced stress treatment, strong enough to induce microspore reprogramming
but not exceeding cell stress tolerance threshold. As the general cause of injuries in in vitro-cultured cells is the overproduction of
reactive oxygen species (ROS), an effi cient antioxidative defence was suggested as the fi rst prerequisite for stress survival and eff ective
ME initiation. To establish the role of ROS and the antioxidative system in ME initiation, the generation of hydrogen peroxide, and
the activities of antioxidative enzymes and low molecular weight antioxidants were analysed in isolated microspores of two cultivars
of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), winter cv. Igri and spring cv. Golden Promise, diff ering signifi cantly with respect to embryogenic
potential. Th e analyses were conducted in microspores redirected towards embryogenic development by low temperature tillers pretreatment
(4 weeks at 4°C). Additionally, the eff ects of compounds known as cellular redox status modifi ers, e.g. glutathione and L-2-
oxo-4-thiazolidinecarboxylic acid (OTC), on microspore viability and ME initiation effi ciency were estimated. Th e received results
suggest that the activity of the antioxidative system is the fi rst prerequisite for successful ME initiation, though in the case of its low
activity, antioxidative defence could be supported by the application of exogenous antioxidants.