Abstract
There are several studies on the medicinal properties of dandelions (Taraxacum officinale), but few studies are aimed at understanding the in vitro germination process of this plant to improve its propagation. This research was focused on studying in vitro seed germination and development of seedlings under different carbon sources, glucose (GLU) or sucrose (SUC) and its concentrations (1.0–5.5%). Additionally, the effect of supplementation with plant growth regulators (PGRs) was studied, measuring the germination capacity, uncertainty and synchrony. Germination was promoted under low carbon source concentrations (≤2.3%), whereas higher concentrations (≥3.2%) had a detrimental effect on this process. GLU allowed the final germination percentages to be slightly better than SUC. Uniformity and synchrony values improved with the presence of PGRs. Results suggested that the best condition to assess T. officinale seed germination is in a medium containing GLU 2.3%, 0.5 mg/L 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 0.5 mg/L 6-Benzylaminopurine acid (BAP). After germination, the best condition for optimal growth of T. officinale seedlings was 1.0% SUC supplemented with 0.225 mg/L of NAA and 3.0 mg/L of BAP for initial shoot development. The survival rate was 97% after greenhouse acclimatization. This new method of germination was implemented for the massive propagation of T. officinale for further medicinal studies.
Highlights
There is a great amount of scientific research on the medicinal properties of the Taraxacum genus due to the presence of various bioactive compounds present in its tissues and organs [1,2,3]
The carbon source affected the FGP related to its concentration in the medium, showing a decrease in the germination percentage at higher sugar concentration
Germination was promoted under the lowest carbon source concentrations (≤2.3%), whereas higher carbon source concentrations (≥5.5%) had a detrimental effect on the germination process
Summary
There is a great amount of scientific research on the medicinal properties of the Taraxacum genus due to the presence of various bioactive compounds present in its tissues and organs [1,2,3]. Its germination process has been usually studied concerning the natural colonization in meadows and to eradicate it from industrial crops, and scarce information regarding dandelion seed requirements is available. The germination of dandelion seeds (Taraxacum officinale) in natural conditions (for instance, in open fields) is low, probably due to pathogenic infections or physical/physiological damage, which makes seedling establishment difficult, reducing the opportunity of using this species commercially as a medicinal plant [4]. Improve in vitro techniques and achieve a better propagation process. In this sense, in vitro culture systems can be manipulated, allowing standardization in plant production, bioactive synthesis and recuperation, and avoiding unfavorable 4.0/).
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