Abstract
Sorbus commixta is a valuable hardwood plant with a high economical value for its medicinal and ornamental qualities. The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of the iron (Fe) source and medium pH on the growth and development of S. commixta in vitro. The Fe sources used, including non-chelated iron sulfate (FeSO4), iron ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (Fe-EDTA), and iron diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Fe-DTPA), were supplemented to the Multipurpose medium with a final Fe concentration of 2.78 mg·L−1. The medium without any supplementary Fe was used as the control. The pH of the agar-solidified medium was adjusted to either 4.70, 5.70, or 6.70. The experiment was conducted in a culture room for six weeks with 25 °C day and night temperatures, and a 16-h photoperiod with a light intensity of 50 mmol·m−2·s−1 photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). Both the Fe source and pH affected the growth and development of the micropropagated plants in vitro. The leaves were greener in the pH 4.70 and 5.70 treatments. The tissue Fe content decreased with the increase of the medium pH. The leaf chlorophyll content was similar between plants treated with FeSO4 and those with Fe-EDTA. The numbers of the shoots and roots of plantlets treated with FeSO4 were 2.5 and 2 times greater than those of the control, respectively. The fresh and dry weights of the shoot and the root were the greatest for plants treated with Fe-EDTA combined with pH 5.70. The calcium, magnesium, and manganese contents in the plantlets increased in the pH 5.70 treatments regardless of the Fe source. Supplementary Fe decreased the activity of ferric chelate reductase. Overall, although the plantlets absorbed more Fe at pH 4.70, Fe-EDTA combined with pH 5.70 was found to be the best for the growth and development of S. commixta in vitro.
Highlights
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.Sorbus (Rosaceae) is a genus comprised of about 100–200 species of trees and shrubs that have been variously utilized in ornamental, industrial, edible, and medical applications [1]
It has been clearly observed that S. commixta (Figure 1A,B) exhibits increased growth upon receiving Fe supplementation
All the observations indicated that the utilization of supplemental FeSO4 and Fe-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) with a low pH, and supplemental Fe-DTPA at pH 6.70, could promote the growth and development of S. commixta in vitro, and decrease chlorosis
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.Sorbus (Rosaceae) is a genus comprised of about 100–200 species of trees and shrubs that have been variously utilized in ornamental, industrial, edible, and medical applications [1]. S. commixta, known as Japanese rowan is an ornamental tree distributed in China, Japan, Korea, and Russia [2]. This plant has been reported to show many pharmacological effects, such as anti-oxidative, anti-ice-nucleated, anti-vascular-inflammatory, anti-lipidperoxidative, anti-atherogenic, and vasorelaxant [3]. Micropropagation is an important method for maintaining unique characteristics, as well as overcoming the problematically low cutting yield. The in vitro culture environment is more controlled than the in vivo environment, and by maintaining unique environmental characteristics, we can apply the experimental results directly to production without other environmental constraints, we are still working on finding the best conditions for the in vitro cultures of this species
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
