In vitro germination and origin of thallus in Griffithella hookeriana (Podostemaceae)

Vidyashankari, B. ; Mohan Ram, H. Y. (1987) In vitro germination and origin of thallus in Griffithella hookeriana (Podostemaceae) Aquatic Botany, 28 (2). pp. 161-169. ISSN 0304-3770

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Official URL: http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/030437...

Related URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0304-3770(87)90037-4

Abstract

Griffithella hookeriana (Tul.) Warm. (Podostemaceae) is a thalloid plant with no true leaves, stem or root. The seeds are extremely small (1000 seeds weigh 0.809 mg) and can be germinated on moist filter paper, but the resulting seedlings fail to survive beyond 5-6 days. A technique of germinating seeds in vitro on thermocole cubes floated in Murashige and Skoog's liquid medium (MS 1/5 strength with 0.5% sucrose) in continuous light (500-1000 lux) at 27±2°C has been developed. During germination, the radicular pole emerges from the seed coat and elongation of the two cotyledons follows. Rhizoids arise from the radicular pole and secrete a sticky substance that helps the seedling to adhere firmly to the substratum. The plumular apex ceases to funciton after producing 2 or 3 pairs of leaf-like outgrowths. A lateral protuberance is formed from the primary axis below the level of cotyledons and develops into a flat, green and oval, round or tubular (branched or unbranched) thallus (up to 0.5-0.8 cm in diameter) within 65-70 days. There is a high mortality of seedlings and plants at various stages of development: about 20% senesce before the initiation of the plumule, 15-20% after the formation of the leaf-like structures and 2-4% during the thallus stage. Seeds retain 83% viability for more than a year when stored dry at 10-15°C.

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