Application of seismo-mechanical stress in attenuation of in vitro induced abnormalities in Scaevola taccada (Gaertn.) Roxb.

Abstract

Abstract Seismic stress interplayed in the alleviation of in vitro induced morphometric and biochemical disorders and effective acclimatization of plantlets of Scaevola taccada. The in vitro regenerated plantlets (through somatic embryogenesis) were subjected to various levels of seismo-mechanical agitations in the present study. The stress treatment at 100 rpm for 8 min increased the rate of shoot proliferation (43.3 shoots with 7.9 cm length), leaf area (2.0 cm × 1.4 cm), rhizogenesis (22.0 roots with 4.6 cm length), and plantlet biomass (480.0 mg fresh weight) as compared with the control (untreated) plantlets. Seismic stress also increased the level of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids), total soluble sugars (TSS), total reducing sugars (TRS), and free amino acids (free AA) contents in the somatic embryo-derived plantlets. The deliberate seismic stress treatment for 4 wk significantly alleviated the in vitro induced morphological and biochemical aberrations to cope with the stress environment. Additionally, the treated plantlets responded better in acclimatization procedures with increased growth, yield, and survival rate (100%). The start codon targeted (SCoT) polymorphism analysis revealed that the plantlets regenerated through the seismo-mechanical stimulation exhibited genetic homogeneity with the mother plant.