Efficient in vitro plant regeneration from seedling-derived explants and genetic stability analysis of regenerated plants of Simarouba glauca DC. by RAPD and ISSR markers

Abstract

Simarouba glauca DC. is a multipurpose tree species known for oil, timber, and medicinal properties. The application of biotechnological methods for genetic improvement of this species depends on the availability of an efficient plant regeneration system. In this study, the shoot regeneration potential of various seedling-derived explants was assessed after culturing on Murashige and Skoog (MS) and woody plant (WP) medium containing different growth regulators. The explants differed in their capacity for shoot bud formation and subsequent shoot elongation on the media tested. Shoot bud induction was achieved at a high frequency (44.8–76.2%) from different explants on MS medium with 2 mg L−1 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) as compared to other media tested. Cotyledons exhibited the highest capacity for shoot bud induction (76.2%) and shoot elongation (9.1 elongated shoots per explant). The in vitro-regenerated shoots rooted at a frequency of 66.7% after pulse treatment in 10 mg mL−1 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) solution for 5 min followed by culture on half-strength WP medium with 0.2 mg L−1 IBA. The regenerated plants were acclimatized and established in the glasshouse with a survival rate of 80%. Molecular characterization of regenerated plants using 14 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and 15 intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) primers revealed a high number of monomorphic bands, with only 1.6–2.6% of the bands being polymorphic. The regeneration system established in the study has the potential to be used for rapid multiplication, conservation, and genetic transformation of this species.