Plant Longevity Research Articles

Linking regional land use and payments for forest hydrological services: A case study of Hoa Binh Reservoir in Vietnam

We have calculated the economic value of forest hydrological services for Hoa Binh Hydroelectric Plant in Vietnam, which is a major power supplier for the capital Hanoi. Our valuation is based on measurements over a six-year period from 2001 to 2006 in 240 permanent sample plots in different vegetation types distributed throughout the watershed. We have synthesized the information with GIS, and carried out simulations with derived empirical models for different land use, electricity price and payment proportion scenarios. Our findings indicate that the economic value of forest hydrological services for electricity production ranges from 26.3 million USD to 85.5 million USD per year; and that the longevity of the hydroelectric plant can be prolonged by about 35–80 years, depending on the state of forest cover in the watershed.

EFFECTS OF 1-METHYLCYCLOPROPENE (1-MCP) AND MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE PACKAGING (MAP) TREATMENTS DURING TRANSPORTATION ON THE QUALITY OF POTTED IMPATIENS (IMPATIENS WALLERIANA)

Ethylene-induced petal and flower abscission is a significant problem in potted impatiens during commercial transportation. Abscised flowers reduce visual impact of the potted plant and can increase the incidence of Botrytis and other saprophytic pathogens. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and their combined treatment on the quality of potted impatiens after simulated transportation at 23°C for 48 h. The results revealed that carbon dioxide (CO2) increased while oxygen (O2) decreased inside the MAP packages during treatments. Final ethylene concentration was highest in those treated with MAP (0.06 μl L-1), lowest concentration was found in MAP combined with 1 μl L-1 of 1-MCP treatment (0.02 μl L-1). Treatments of MAP combined with 0.1, 1 µl L-1 1-MCP and 1 µl L-1 1-MCP combined with ethylene delayed flower abscission and increased plant and floret longevity of potted impatiens cultivars 'Rouge' and 'Peach'. The results clearly indicated that MAP combined with 1-MCP treatment during transportation might provide a feasible technique for extending the display life maintaining the quality and aesthetic value of potted impatiens.

Increasing plant longevity and associated metabolic events in potted carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L. Clove Pink)

The effects of aminooxyacetic acid, benzyladenine, and 1-methylcyclopropene treatments on the post-production flower quality of potted carnation plants (Dianthus caryophyllus L. Clove Pink) were investigated considering ethylene production and antioxidant metabolism. Maximum plant longevity (17 days) was obtained using 70 ppb of 1-methylcyclopropene. As compared to control plants, ethylene production was significantly decreased by aminooxyacetic acid at concentrations over 100 mg L-1, benzyladenine at 20 or 30 mg L-1, and 1-methylcyclopropene at 70 and 140 ppb. A significant increase in 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic-acid concentration was observed in 1-methylcyclopropene treated plants compared with the control ones. On the other hand, decline in 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic-acid concentration was observed after using 100 or 150 mg L-1 of aminooxyacetic acid. Use of 1-methylcyclopropene (70 or 140 ppb), aminooxyacetic acid (100 or 150 mg L-1), and benzyladenine (20 or 30 mg L-1) significantly decreased H2O2 concentration and superoxide radical when compared with the untreated control. Significant increases in activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase were noticed when plants were treated with 70 ppb 1-methylcyclopropene. In conclusion, aminooxyacetic acid, benzyladenine (at high concentrations), and 1-methylcyclopropene treatments can be suitable candidates for extending plant longevity, maintaining the visual quality, and reducing the loss of flower anthocyanin.

Can extinction risk help explain plant–pollinator specificity among euglossine bee pollinated plants?

Long‐term or lifetime specificity in plant–pollinator relationships is likely a consequence of natural selection to not only enhance the probability of cross‐pollination but also to improve pollinator efficiency. Dependency on one or few pollinators involves risk whereas multiple species may reduce the probability of extinction via unreliable pollinator service. We analyzed specificity in terms of factors that may ameliorate risk such as long‐term pollinator population stability, abundance and the duration of flowering. Bee population stability indices from seven continuous years of census data, combined with pollinator and flowering phenology data for 37 plant species in Panama, revealed pollinator specificity was not related to pollinator population stability. No relationship existed between the length of a flowering season and population stability of associated pollinators. Further data from 30 years of euglossine monitoring also revealed no relationship between bee abundance and specificity. However, a strong relationship was revealed between length of flowering period and specificity. A longer flowering season was associated with lower specificity and shorter flowering was associated with higher specificity, which is as expected if specificity is the outcome of a sampling problem but not as expected if specificity is accompanied by risk reduction. Plant–pollinator specificity involving euglossine bees is evidently not related to bee population stability, abundance, or length of flowering period, in a manner that we predicted would be associated with reducing the risk of extinction. Variation in population stabilities of euglossines may be insufficient to be a factor in the evolution of plant–pollinator specificity. In the tropics, specificity may be more associated with plant longevity, selection for efficiency or effectiveness, or flowering duration –as a sampling phenomenon, than with reducing dependence on unreliable pollinators.

Eutrophication and drought disturbance shape functional diversity and life-history traits of aquatic plants in shallow lakes

Theories that link plant strategies and abiotic filters discriminate between three strategies: competitive, ruderal or stress-tolerant species, and suggest that functional diversity is higher at intermediate values along the gradients of productivity and disturbance. The mechanism by which abiotic filters screen plant traits in aquatic plant communities has been poorly tested and has led to contrasting results. The present study aimed to test whether functional diversity and abundance of life-history traits corresponding to morphology, fecundity and longevity of aquatic plants were linked to disturbance and productivity. Fifty-nine shallow lakes that were arranged along a gradient of productivity (estimated through total phosphorus concentration) and drought-disturbance frequency were sampled for aquatic plants. Species traits were documented and functional diversity was calculated (richness, dispersion and evenness) for each lake. Increasing total phosphorus concentration was associated with decreased functional richness and dispersion but not functional evenness. Functional diversity did not differ according to disturbance frequency, regardless of the index that was measured. High productivity favoured floating species with storage organs and vegetative reproduction, especially at low disturbance frequency. For all disturbance frequencies, low productivity favoured small species without storage organs and sexual reproduction. The present study partly supports the theoretical model. At high productivity levels, because phytoplankton is a better competitor for light than aquatic plants, plant traits are screened stringently, and species with traits that allow them to reach the photic zone are selected.

Linking landscape history and dispersal traits in grassland plant communities

Dispersal limitation and long-term persistence are known to delay plant species' responses to habitat fragmentation, but it is still unclear to what extent landscape history may explain the distribution of dispersal traits in present-day plant communities. We used quantitative data on long-distance seed dispersal potential by wind and grazing cattle (epi- and endozoochory), and on persistence (adult plant longevity and seed bank persistence) to quantify the linkages between dispersal and persistence traits in grassland plant communities and current and past landscape configurations. The long-distance dispersal potential of present-day communities was positively associated with the amounts of grassland in the historical (1835, 1938) landscape, and with a long continuity of grazing management-but was not associated with the properties of the current landscape. The study emphasises the role of history as a determinant of the dispersal potential of present-day grassland plant communities. The importance of long-distance dispersal processes has declined in the increasingly fragmented modern landscape, and long-term persistent species are expected to play a more dominant role in grassland communities in the future. However, even within highly fragmented landscapes, long-distance dispersed species may persist locally-delaying the repayment of the extinction debt.

Extremely Long-Lived Stigmas Allow Extended Cross-Pollination Opportunities in a High Andean Plant

High-elevation ecosystems are traditionally viewed as environments in which predominantly autogamous breeding systems should be selected because of the limited pollinator availability. Chaetanthera renifolia (Asteraceae) is an endemic monocarpic triennial herb restricted to a narrow altitudinal range within the high Andes of central Chile (3300–3500 m a.s.l.), just below the vegetation limit. This species displays one of the larger capitulum within the genus. Under the reproductive assurance hypothesis, and considering its short longevity (monocarpic triennial), an autogamous breeding system and low levels of pollen limitation would be predicted for C. renifolia. In contrast, considering its large floral size, a xenogamous breeding system, and significant levels of pollen limitation could be expected. In addition, the increased pollination probability hypothesis predicts prolonged stigma longevity for high alpine plants. We tested these alternative predictions by performing experimental crossings in the field to establish the breeding system and to measure the magnitude of pollen limitation in two populations of C. renifolia. In addition, we measured the stigma longevity in unpollinated and open pollinated capitula, and pollinator visitation rates in the field. We found low levels of self-compatibility and significant levels of pollen limitation in C. renifolia. Pollinator visitation rates were moderate (0.047–0.079 visits per capitulum per 30 min). Although pollinator visitation rate significantly differed between populations, they were not translated into differences in achene output. Finally, C. renifolia stigma longevity of unpollinated plants was extremely long and significantly higher than that of open pollinated plants (26.3±2.8 days vs. 10.1±2.2, respectively), which gives support to the increased pollination probability hypothesis for high-elevation flowering plants. Our results add to a growing number of studies that show that xenogamous breeding systems and mechanisms to increase pollination opportunities can be selected in high-elevation ecosystems.

Meta-analysis of phenotypic selection on flowering phenology suggests that early flowering plants are favoured

Flowering times of plants are important life-history components and it has previously been hypothesized that flowering phenologies may be currently subject to natural selection or be selectively neutral. In this study we reviewed the evidence for phenotypic selection acting on flowering phenology using ordinary and phylogenetic meta-analysis. Phenotypic selection exists when a phenotypic trait co-varies with fitness; therefore, we looked for studies reporting an association between two components of flowering phenology (flowering time or flowering synchrony) with fitness. Data sets comprising 87 and 18 plant species were then used to assess the incidence and strength of phenotypic selection on flowering time and flowering synchrony, respectively. The influence of dependence on pollinators, the duration of the reproductive event, latitude and plant longevity as moderators of selection were also explored. Our results suggest that selection favours early flowering plants, but the strength of selection is influenced by latitude, with selection being stronger in temperate environments. However, there is no consistent pattern of selection on flowering synchrony. Our study demonstrates that phenotypic selection on flowering time is consistent and relatively strong, in contrast to previous hypotheses of selective neutrality, and has implications for the evolution of temperate floras under global climate change.

Indirect changes associated with a selection program for increased seed-yield in wild species of Lesquerella (Brassicaceae): Are we developing a phenotype opposite to the expected ideotype?

Seed-yield stability, frequently associated with drought-tolerance strategies, is one of the main breeding objectives for the development of crops for semi-arid mediterranean-type environments. Since breeding of new industrial crops targeted for arid lands is not appreciably different from that of traditional crops, higher yield is achieved by increased harvest-index, at the cost of losing traits associated with drought-tolerance and reduced seed-yield stability. Using Lesquerella as a model we compared selected and unselected accessions of annual ( L. gracilis and L. angustifolia) and perennial ( L. pinetorum and L. mendocina) genotypes grown in field experiments in Patagonia, Argentina. Our objective was to assess the effects of breeding for increased seed-yield on traits related to the main characteristics that define the most common ideotype for mediterranean-type environments: early vigor, conservative growth strategy post-anthesis and reserves storage. Our specific question was: Have any of the attributes associated with seed-yield stability been indirectly selected during the domestication process? Our results show that these characteristics were reduced or lost, in selected lines compared to their wild relatives. Early vigor was lower in selected accessions and was associated mainly with reduced relative growth rate and CO 2 assimilation. During the reproductive period the growth strategy was changed by selection towards a non-conservative and more acquisitive resource use strategy. Traits associated with this strategy were linked to higher water use efficiency and growth capacity (higher CO 2 assimilation rate, specific leaf area, and leaf allocation), but also with loss of structural adaptation to low resource environments (i.e. low specific leaf area), an increase in nutrient and water demands, and reduced nutrient use efficiency. Carbohydrates accumulation pre-anthesis was lower in selected accessions of all four species, and also, just in perennials we found lower reserves storage post-anthesis. These changes in the pattern of carbohydrates accumulation could be associated to lower seed-yield stability due to the loss of buffer capacity linked with the use of pre-anthesis reserves for seed filling. On the other hand, in perennial species lower reserves storage after seed harvest could reduce plant longevity and survival. We conclude that indirect changes occurred during the preliminary domestication of both annual and perennial species of Lesquerella used in our experiment. These changes were against those required if these species were to be developed as crops for semi-arid, mediterranean environments and should result in low seed-yield stability.

Longevity of clonal plants: why it matters and how to measure it.

Species' life-history and population dynamics are strongly shaped by the longevity of individuals, but life span is one of the least accessible demographic traits, particularly in clonal plants. Continuous vegetative reproduction of genets enables persistence despite low or no sexual reproduction, affecting genet turnover rates and population stability. Therefore, the longevity of clonal plants is of considerable biological interest, but remains relatively poorly known. Here, we critically review the present knowledge on the longevity of clonal plants and discuss its importance for population persistence. Direct life-span measurements such as growth-ring analysis in woody plants are relatively easy to take, although, for many clonal plants, these methods are not adequate due to the variable growth pattern of ramets and difficult genet identification. Recently, indirect methods have been introduced in which genet size and annual shoot increments are used to estimate genet age. These methods, often based on molecular techniques, allow the investigation of genet size and age structure of whole populations, a crucial issue for understanding their viability and persistence. However, indirect estimates of clonal longevity are impeded because the process of ageing in clonal plants is still poorly understood and because their size and age are not always well correlated. Alternative estimators for genet life span such as somatic mutations have recently been suggested. Empirical knowledge on the longevity of clonal species has increased considerably in the last few years. Maximum age estimates are an indicator of population persistence, but are not sufficient to evaluate turnover rates and the ability of long-lived clonal plants to enhance community stability and ecosystem resilience. In order to understand the dynamics of populations it will be necessary to measure genet size and age structure, not only life spans of single individuals, and to use such data for modelling of genet dynamics.

Do Clonal and Bud Bank Traits Vary in Correspondence with Soil Properties and Resource Acquisition Strategies? Patterns in Alpine Communities in the Scandian Mountains

Plant traits associated with resource acquisition strategies (specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), leaf size and plant height) change along gradients of soil properties, being the most conservative in a resource-poor environment and the most dynamic in a resource-rich environment. Clonal attributes also vary along soil and other environmental conditions. We hypothesized that in alpine communities in the Scandian Mts. (1) the average composition of traits in a plant assemblage in terms of i) the predominance of different clonal growth organ types, ii) the number of buds in the bud bank, iii) the distribution of the bud-bank (above- and below ground), iv) the distance of lateral spread and v) the longevity of plant – offspring connections would change along a gradient of soil properties and (2) that this variation would be in correspondence with that of traits associated with resource acquisition strategies (SLA, LDMC, leaf size and plant height). Analysis of clonal and bud bank traits for species of alpine communities supported our first hypothesis: with decreasing soil quality the most common clonal growth organs were rhizomes, and there was a predominance of perennial bud banks located at the soil surface or below-ground, low rates of lateral spread and long persistence of plant – offspring connections. Our second hypothesis was partly supported. As predicted, at the level of the plant assemblage, these clonal and bud bank traits were positively associated with LDMC, and negatively with leaf size and plant height. These observations reinforce the hypotheses about trade-offs between acquisition and retention strategies in plants. The only result that was in contradiction with our expectations was the lack of correspondence between clonal and bud bank traits and SLA that could be attributed to errors associated to the measurement of the area of narrow and small leaves or to the dependence of the SLA index on species-specific morphological attributes.

Genotypic Variation in the Postharvest Performance and Ethylene Sensitivity of Cut Rose Flowers

Natural variation in the postharvest quality and longevity of ornamental plants can often be related to differences in their response to ethylene. In the present study, we determined the postharvest performance and ethylene sensitivity of cut flowers from 38 cultivated Hybrid Tea rose genotypes. The vase life of the cultivars varied considerably from 4.5 to 18.8 days at 21 °C. There was also substantial variation in the degree of flower opening among genotypes. Exposure to 1 μL·L−1 ethylene for 24 h at 21 °C reduced the longevity of 27 cultivars by 0.8 to 8.4 days (18% to 47%) by accelerating petal wilting and abscission. Ethylene treatment also significantly reduced rates of flower opening in 17 sensitive cultivars and in six cultivars that showed no ethylene-related reduction in vase life. Five cultivars showed no reduction in vase life or flower opening in response to ethylene exposure. Pre-treating stems with 0.2 mm silver thiosulfate liquid or 0.9 μL·L−1 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) gas for 16 h at 2 °C reduced the deleterious effects of ethylene. The release of 1-MCP from two sachets containing EthylBloc™ into individual shipping boxes also protected flowers against ethylene applied immediately after a 6-d commercial shipment. The duration of protection afforded by the 1-MCP sachet treatment was greatest when flowers were maintained at low temperature.

Seed longevity and germination characteristics of six fen plant species

Fens are among the most threatened habitats in Europe as their area has decreased considerably in the last centuries. For successful management and restoration conservationists need detailed knowledge about seed bank formation and seed longevity of plants, as these features are closely related to successional and vegetation dynamical processes. I analysed seed longevity and the germination characteristics of six fen plant species by seed burial experiments. Based on seed weight, seed bank was expected for long-term persistent for the light-seeded Schoenus nigricans, Carex appropinquata, C. pseudocyperus, C. davalliana and Peucedanum palustre and also that for the medium-seeded Cicuta virosa. It was proved that, the latter two species have short-term persistent seed banks, while Carex pseudocyperus has a transient seed bank, therefore these species may only have a limited role in restoration from seed banks. It was found that Schoenus nigricans, Carex appropinquata and C. davalliana have persistent seed banks, because some of their four-year-old seeds have emerged. Fresh seeds had low germination rate in all studied species and majority of seeds emerged after winter, except for Carex pseudocyperus. After the germination peak in spring, the majority of the ungerminated seeds of Schoenus nigricans, Peucedanum palustre, Carex appropinquata, C. davalliana and Cicuta virosa entered a secondary dormancy phase that was broken in autumn. I found the seasonal emergence of the latter three species highly similar.

Overexpression of the CBF2 transcriptional activator in Arabidopsis delays leaf senescence and extends plant longevity

Leaf senescence is a programmed developmental process governed by various endogenous and exogenous factors, such as the plant developmental stage, leaf age, phytohormone levels, darkness, and exposure to stresses. It was found that, in addition to its well-documented role in the enhancement of plant frost tolerance, overexpression of the C-repeat/dehydration responsive element binding factor 2 (CBF2) gene in Arabidopsis delayed the onset of leaf senescence and extended the life span of the plants by approximately 2 weeks. This phenomenon was exhibited both during developmental leaf senescence and during senescence of detached leaves artificially induced by either darkness or phytohormones. Transcriptome analysis using the Affymetrix ATH1 genome array revealed that overexpression of CBF2 significantly influenced the expression of 286 genes in mature leaf tissue. In addition to 30 stress-related genes, overexpression of CBF2 also affected the expression of 24 transcription factor (TF) genes, and 20 genes involved in protein metabolism, degradation, and post-translational modification. These results indicate that overexpression of CBF2 not only increases frost tolerance, but also affects other developmental processes, most likely through interactions with additional TFs and protein modification genes. The present findings shed new light on the crucial relationship between plant stress tolerance and longevity, as reported for other eukaryotic organisms.

Phenotypic plasticity and longevity in plants and animals: cause and effect?

Immobile plants and immobile modular animals outlive unitary animals. This paper discusses competing but not necessarily mutually exclusive theories to explain this extreme longevity, especially from the perspective of phenotypic plasticity. Stem cell immortality, vascular autonomy, and epicormic branching are some important features of the phenotypic plasticity of plants that contribute to their longevity. Monocarpy versus polycarpy can also influence the kind of senescent processes experienced by plants. How density-dependent phenomena affecting the establishment of juveniles in these immobile organisms can influence the evolution of senescence, and consequently longevity, is reviewed and discussed. Whether climate change scenarios will favour long-lived or short-lived organisms, with their attendant levels of plasticity, is also presented.

Discovering the mechanisms of plant longevity to fight human aging and age related diseases

Aging is one of the most complex and challenging problems in biology. Therefore, many models from yeast to mammals are widely used to discover the mechanisms of human aging in order to postpone it and prevent age related diseases. According to the evolutionary theory of aging [1], natural selection only affected early life traits like fitness and reproduction, due to predation and accidents that prevent the becoming old of animals in the wild. But it likely failed to prevent late life phenotypes like aging and even contributed or caused them by antagonistic pleiotropy. In contrast to animals, plants, especially trees, live in a protected environment and are not subject to predation. This should have allowed natural selection to prevent late life's deleterious effects in at least some plants. The presence of very long living tree species like Pinus longaeva that lives up to 5000 years [2] and 9550 years old spruce which is the oldest living tree [3], suggest that natural selection has found a way to prevent aging. In this study, the present literature on plant longevity and senescence was scrutinized and a working frame including leaf senescence [4] and seed longevity [5] was described for further studies. The wide range health benefits of pycnogenol [6], a bark extract of pine that is also a long living tree, gives the hope to discover other phytochemicals ensuring plant longevity from especially oldest living plants that have the potential to be weapons in our war against aging and age associated diseases.

Phenological and morphological differentiation in annual Chaetanthera moenchioides (Asteraceae) over an aridity gradient

Flowering-time, plant longevity and size of capitulum were studied in a common garden experiment on seven populations of annual Chaetanthera moenchioides derived from a strong latitudinal aridity gradient in the mediterranean climate area of Chile. Populations derived from the drier northern part of the latitudinal gradient showed significantly shorter flowering and fruiting phenology and smaller capitula under uniform growing conditions. Water stress experiments performed in the greenhouse induced further phenological hastening and a reduction in number of ray florets per capitulum. Population differentiation and the reaction norms in C. moenchioides agree with the predictions of genetic-assimilation given that the plastic response of the species under water stress mimics phenotypic differentiation that has evolved along the environmental gradient.

Relationship between plant stress tolerance, senescence and life span

Purpose of review: In many aerobic organisms, including fungi, yeasts, nematodes, fruit flies, mice and humans, it was found that increased resistance to stresses, especially oxidative stress, is correlated with extended longevity, which leads to the development of the “stress resistance” theory of aging. Nevertheless, very little is yet known regarding the accuracy of this theory in plants. Here we review recently accumulated evidence supporting the existence of tight correlation between stress tolerance and onset of senescence and determination of life span in plants, which supports the applicability of this theory to plants. Findings: Certain lines of evidence reveal the correlation between plant stress tolerance and regulation of senescence and life span. Firstly, it was found that the Arabidopsis delayed leaf senescence mutants ore1, ore3 and ore9 and the long-lived mutant gigantea exhibit enhanced tolerance to oxidative stresses. Secondly, transgenic cotton plants overexpressing the GF14 λ regulator gene and Arabidopsis plants overexpressing the CBF2 transcriptional activator gene are more tolerant to drought and freeze stresses, respectively, and also show delayed leaf senescence phenotypes and enhanced life spans. Thirdly, Arabidopsis mutants deficient in vitamin C (vtc1) or vitamin E (vte2) are sensitive to oxidative stress, and exhibit premature senescence and reduced seed longevity, respectively. Together, these findings suggest a tight link between stress resistance and longevity in plants, similar to what has been hypothesised in animals. Direction for future research: Confirmation of the correlation between plant stress tolerance and regulation of senescence and life span opens the possibility of using this knowledge in future research and in breeding programs in order to develop new horticultural cultivars with enhanced tolerance to environmental stresses that will most likely include phenotypes with extended longevity and delayed senescence. Such cultivars will obviously have much improved postharvest storage lives and will suffer less from damage caused by accelerated senescence.

The survival strategy of the alpine endemic Primula glaucescens is fundamentally unchanged throughout its climate envelope despite superficial phenotypic variability

The survival of alpine species in changing climates depends on dispersal or adaptation. However, it is unclear whether trait variability along elevation/climatic gradients is adaptive or represents stress towards lower/warmer elevations, particularly for the endangered endemics for which protected status and plant longevity preclude experimental study. We chose one such species, known for its phenotypic variability (Primula glaucescens, endemic to the southern Alps), and quantified key functional traits in situ throughout its range, correlating these with elevation as a proxy for climate. Larger leaves were evident towards lower elevations, but tissue nitrogen dilution and limited regenerative fitness were symptomatic of stress. Specific leaf area, a correlate of relative growth rate, was consistently low: the entire species exhibits conservative leaf economy and inherently slow growth. This seemingly variable species exhibits superficial variability around a fundamentally conservative, cold-adapted survival strategy, and thus phenotypic variability is unlikely to facilitate the persistence of alpine endemics during rapid climate warming.

In vitro thermotherapy and shoot-tip culture to eliminate Caper latent virus in Capparis spinosa.

Capparis spinosa plants in the Sicilian Islands, Italy, are frequently infected with Caper latent virus (CapLV). CapLV affects the vigour and longevity of caper plants and exacerbates the effect of other adverse biotic and abiotic factors. To have CapLV-free cuttings of caper for multiplication and new planting is therefore advantageous for a revival of this crop wherever it is cultivated. An improved procedure for the in vitro thermotherapy combined with the culture of the shoot tips of C. spinosa has been applied to caper material collected from Salina (Aeolian Archipelago) and Pantelleria. More than of 60% (Salina) and 90% (Pantelleria) of the shoot tips survived, and 89–93% of the regenerated plantlets were CapLV-free when tested by RT-PCR. This is the first report on eliminating CapLV from caper plants.