Breaking the Dormancy of Snake's Head Fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris L.) In Vitro Bulbs-Part 2: Effect of GA3 Soaking and Chilling on Sugar Status in Sprouted Bulbs.

Marija Marković,Olga Radulović,Angelina Subotić,Snežana Milošević,Slađana Jevremović,Branka Uzelac,Milana Trifunović Momčilov

doi:10.3390/plants9111573

Abstract

The bulb is the main propagation organ of snake’s head fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris L.), a horticulturally attractive and rare geophyte plant species. In this study, we investigated the effect of soaking bulbs in GA3 solution (1, 2, and 3 mg L−1) combined with low-temperature treatment (7 °C) on breaking the dormancy of in vitro bulbs. Sugar status (total soluble sugars, glucose, and fructose content) was analyzed in different parts of the sprouted bulbs. The results showed that the soluble sugar concentration was highest in bulbs soaked in GA3. The main sugar in fritillary bulbs was glucose, while fructose content was much lower. Glucose concentration dramatically increased after bulb chilling (7 °C), and its accumulation was predominantly detected in the lower sprout portion during the first weeks of sprouting. Sugar concentration was significantly lower in nonchilled bulbs, which indicates the importance of low temperature in bulb development and sprouting.

Highlights

Bulbs are reproductive organs used for vegetative propagation in geophytes, such as fritillary.Geophytes are characterized by a very short active aboveground growth period in the spring, whereas through the winter period or dry season of the year, they survive in the form of an underground storage organ, e.g., bulb in fritillary
The regenerated bulblets were light green, while soaking F. meleagris bulbs in GA3 solution (1, 2, and 3 mg L−1 ) for 24 h resulted in minor changes in bulb morphology
After two weeks of culture, small bulbs or bulb scales appeared on the outside of the main bulb soaked in GA3 solution (Figure 1B,C)

Summary

Introduction

Bulbs are reproductive organs used for vegetative propagation in geophytes, such as fritillary. Geophytes are characterized by a very short active aboveground growth period in the spring, whereas through the winter period or dry season of the year, they survive in the form of an underground storage organ, e.g., bulb in fritillary. Fritillary bulbs contain many bioactive compounds with medicinal properties, and the whole plant is very attractive from the perspective of horticulture [1]. Carbohydrates play a very important role in bulb dormancy and development. They participate in many physiological processes and biological syntheses [2]. The distribution and translocation of sugars were documented earlier in potato, Tulipa, and lily [3,4,5], but a similar study in fritillary bulbs has never been documented in the literature

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