Propagation of goldenrod (Solidago canadensis L.) from leaf and nodal explants

Jun Li,Gary Peng,Sheng Qiang,Yunyan Kang

doi:10.5586/asbp.2011.044

Abstract

Goldenrod (<em>Solidago canadensis </em>L.) is an invasive plant species in many countries except North America but a cut-flower species worldwide. There is a need to generate and propagate goldenrod clones efficiently for research and commercial purposes. A callus induction and plantlet regeneration system was developed by studying the influence of explant type and different concentrations of plant growth regulators. The highest callus production from leaf segments was obtained on Murashige and Skoog’s medium (MS medium) supplemented with 1.0 mg/L naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and 1.0 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine (BA). Adventitious shoots could be regenerated directly from leaf explants without an intermediate callus phase with the highest shoot induction percentage of 87.2%. The largest number of adventitious shoots per leaf explant (3.2) was obtained on MS medium supplemented with 0.4 mg/L NAA and 2.0 mg/L BA. MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/L NAA and 1.0 mg/L BA was the best medium for axillary shoot regeneration from nodal segments. The highest root number and longest roots occurred on half-strength MS without the addition of any growth regulator. Rooted plantlets were then transferred to a soil-based growth medium, placed in a greenhouse, and acclimatized with 100% success. All surviving plants grew normally without showing any morphological varia&shy;tion when compared to those grow from seed. This regeneration protocol may be used to produce certain biotypes of goldenrod suitable for genetic transformation rapid propagation of goldenrod for commercial purposes or for screening fungi and toxins as potential biocontrol agents against this weed.

Highlights

Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis L., Asteraceae), a landscape weedy plant species found commonly within its native range in North America, is considered an ornamental plant [1]
Plantlets produced the highest number of leaves (12.9) when cultured on MS medium with 0.1 mg/L BA + 0.05 mg/L naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), while shoot height, leaf area, and root numbers were the lowest on this medium
A medium containing 0.05 mg/L NAA was superior to the plant growth regulators (PGRs)-free basal medium, and when at the 0.1 mg/L NAA level, the plantlets produced an average of 4.3 cm2 leaf area and 6 roots per plantlet after 3 months of culturing (Tab. 1)

Summary

Introduction

Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis L., Asteraceae), a landscape weedy plant species found commonly within its native range in North America, is considered an ornamental plant [1]. Goldenrod is self-compatible and produces huge numbers of wind-dispersed seeds that germinate in a wide range of soil types [2], and can reproduce asexually through rhizome propagation. Worldwide, it has naturalized in Europe, New Zealand, Australia, and parts of Asia to an invasive alien weed [3,4]. Establishment of a tissue culture system could allow further molecular ecology research and genetic transformation procedures that, in the future, may help us understand genetic basis of the enhanced performance of invasive plants species and the traits that have made weeds successful colonizers and troublesome pests.

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Conclusion