UV-B Radiation as a Novel Tool to Modulate the Architecture of In Vitro Grown <i>Mentha spicata</i> (L.)

In vitro culturing can generate plants with a distorted morphology. Some distortions affect the plant’s survival after transfer to an ex vitro environment, while others can affect the aesthetic value. Therefore, exogenous hormones are often applied in in vitro cultures to modulate plant architecture...

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Main Authors: Gaia Crestani, Natalie Cunningham, Uthman O. Badmus, Els Prinsen, Marcel A. K. Jansen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-12-01
Series:Agronomy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/1/2
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author Gaia Crestani
Natalie Cunningham
Uthman O. Badmus
Els Prinsen
Marcel A. K. Jansen
author_facet Gaia Crestani
Natalie Cunningham
Uthman O. Badmus
Els Prinsen
Marcel A. K. Jansen
author_sort Gaia Crestani
collection DOAJ
description In vitro culturing can generate plants with a distorted morphology. Some distortions affect the plant’s survival after transfer to an ex vitro environment, while others can affect the aesthetic value. Therefore, exogenous hormones are often applied in in vitro cultures to modulate plant architecture. In this study, it was hypothesised that regulatory effects of UV-B radiation on plant morphology can be exploited under in vitro conditions, and that UV exposure will result in sturdier, less elongated plants with more branches and smaller leaves, mediated by changes in plant hormones. Plants were grown in tissue-culture containers and exposed to ~0.22 W m<sup>−2</sup> UV-B for 8 days. Subsequently, plants were transferred to soil and monitored for a further 7 days. Results show that UV induced a marked change in architecture with a significant increase in axillary branches, and reductions in leaf area, plant height and root weight. These changes were associated with significant alterations in concentrations of hormones, including IAA, GA7, GA3 and iP–9–G. Changes in hormone concentrations suggest a regulatory, rather than a stress response to UV-B. Therefore, it is proposed that the application of UV in in vitro culture can be an innovative approach to manipulate plant architecture.
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spelling doaj.art-48044ca8daf84a05854d3dc8fb630f5d2023-11-30T20:47:33ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952022-12-01131210.3390/agronomy13010002UV-B Radiation as a Novel Tool to Modulate the Architecture of In Vitro Grown <i>Mentha spicata</i> (L.)Gaia Crestani0Natalie Cunningham1Uthman O. Badmus2Els Prinsen3Marcel A. K. Jansen4School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science and Environmental Research Institute, North Mall Campus, University College Cork, T23 TK30 Cork, IrelandSchool of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science and Environmental Research Institute, North Mall Campus, University College Cork, T23 TK30 Cork, IrelandSchool of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science and Environmental Research Institute, North Mall Campus, University College Cork, T23 TK30 Cork, IrelandIntegrated Molecular Plant Physiology Research, Department of Biology, University of Antwerpen, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020 Antwerpen, BelgiumSchool of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science and Environmental Research Institute, North Mall Campus, University College Cork, T23 TK30 Cork, IrelandIn vitro culturing can generate plants with a distorted morphology. Some distortions affect the plant’s survival after transfer to an ex vitro environment, while others can affect the aesthetic value. Therefore, exogenous hormones are often applied in in vitro cultures to modulate plant architecture. In this study, it was hypothesised that regulatory effects of UV-B radiation on plant morphology can be exploited under in vitro conditions, and that UV exposure will result in sturdier, less elongated plants with more branches and smaller leaves, mediated by changes in plant hormones. Plants were grown in tissue-culture containers and exposed to ~0.22 W m<sup>−2</sup> UV-B for 8 days. Subsequently, plants were transferred to soil and monitored for a further 7 days. Results show that UV induced a marked change in architecture with a significant increase in axillary branches, and reductions in leaf area, plant height and root weight. These changes were associated with significant alterations in concentrations of hormones, including IAA, GA7, GA3 and iP–9–G. Changes in hormone concentrations suggest a regulatory, rather than a stress response to UV-B. Therefore, it is proposed that the application of UV in in vitro culture can be an innovative approach to manipulate plant architecture.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/1/2ultraviolet radiationUV-Bplant morphologyphotomorphogenesisin vitro culturephytohormones
spellingShingle Gaia Crestani
Natalie Cunningham
Uthman O. Badmus
Els Prinsen
Marcel A. K. Jansen
UV-B Radiation as a Novel Tool to Modulate the Architecture of In Vitro Grown <i>Mentha spicata</i> (L.)
Agronomy
ultraviolet radiation
UV-B
plant morphology
photomorphogenesis
in vitro culture
phytohormones
title UV-B Radiation as a Novel Tool to Modulate the Architecture of In Vitro Grown <i>Mentha spicata</i> (L.)
title_full UV-B Radiation as a Novel Tool to Modulate the Architecture of In Vitro Grown <i>Mentha spicata</i> (L.)
title_fullStr UV-B Radiation as a Novel Tool to Modulate the Architecture of In Vitro Grown <i>Mentha spicata</i> (L.)
title_full_unstemmed UV-B Radiation as a Novel Tool to Modulate the Architecture of In Vitro Grown <i>Mentha spicata</i> (L.)
title_short UV-B Radiation as a Novel Tool to Modulate the Architecture of In Vitro Grown <i>Mentha spicata</i> (L.)
title_sort uv b radiation as a novel tool to modulate the architecture of in vitro grown i mentha spicata i l
topic ultraviolet radiation
UV-B
plant morphology
photomorphogenesis
in vitro culture
phytohormones
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/13/1/2
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