Advancing woody plant regeneration: Insights from salix species tissue culture studies

Abstract

Abstract. In this study, we established a sterile propagation and regeneration system for Mongolian willow in order to study its salt tolerance and adaptation in depth and to provide methods for future genetic improvement. Mongolian willow, belonging to the genus Willow in the family Populus, is valued for its high salt tolerance and ability to ameliorate high pH soils. However, its distribution in specific saline soil areas and sensitivity to drought and rainless environments make its reproduction limited. In this study, by stem segment induction method, we aseptically cultured apical and lateral shoots of Mongolian willow, respectively, and found that the apical shoots performed best in MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/L IBA, while the lateral shoots grew well in MS medium supplemented with 6-BA, IBA and TDZ. In addition, this study investigated the effects of different combinations of phytohormones on healing tissue induction and found that the combination of NAA and 6-BA had the highest success and value-added rate. Further addition of TDZ significantly increased the induction rate. The study also dealt with the application of DNA methylation inhibitors in inducing adventitious shoots, and the results showed that the addition of this inhibitor in specific culture medium could significantly increase the induction rate of adventitious shoots. In this study, the regeneration system of Mongolian willow was successfully established, which provides a basis for its future genetic research and wide application.