Biochemical characteristics and nutrient content of the callus of sunflower inbred lines

Abstract

SUMMARY Mineral nutrition is a factor affecting in vitro regeneration. Various requirements for individual mineral elements between plant species and also between genotypes of the same species have led to the differentiation and definition of the significance of the genetic background in determining callus biochemical characteristics and a confirmation whether different requirements for nutrients leave a possibility of achieving better and more efficient regeneration with a specific modification of substratum composition. The practical aspect of the obtained results lays in the fact that the sunflower species are characterized by low regeneration ability. It was shown that the dynamics of uptake and accumulation of mineral elements into callus cells is a genotype dependent trait being more or less evident depending upon element. Total nitrogen content was between 4 and 5%. The sunflower genotype PH-BC2-101A showed the highest accumulation of nitrogen, phos phorus and, to some extent, calcium. Consequently, a high accumulation of total dry matter without pigment synthesis was recorded. A high nitrogen accumulation in the cited genotype resulting in the highest nitrate reductase activity a very high accumulation of soluble proteins (enzymes).