This review describes in vitro mutation induction methods in fruits and the in vitro selection procedures available for early screening. Results obtained through in vitro mutation techniques, including somaclonal variation, are reviewed and compared with the current achievements and future prospects of transgenic breeding. Plant improvement based on mutations, which change one or a few specific traits of a cultivar, can contribute to fruit improvement without altering the requirements of fruit industry. Induced mutations have well defined limitations in fruit breeding applications, but their possibilities may be expanded by the use of in vitro techniques. Tissue culture increases the efficiency of mutagenic treatments for variation induction, handling of large populations, use of ready selection methods, and rapid cloning of selected variants. Molecular techniques can provide a better understanding of the potential and limitations of mutation breeding e.g. molecular marker-assisted selection, which can lead to the early identification of useful variants. The relatively high number of research reports compared with the low number of cultivars released suggests that mutagenesis in combination with tissue culture is either ineffective or has yet to be exploited in fruits. Positive achievement recorded in other species seem to support the hypothesis that in vitro mutation induction has high potential also for fruit improvement. The possible contribution of a well-pondered and coordinated use of the numerous mutation induction, mutant selection, and field validation procedures available to advances in fruit breeding is discussed.

Mutation induction and tissue culture in improving fruits

1. Introduction. 2. Laboratory Organization and Equipment. 3. Media Preparation. 4. Collection, Sterilization, Excision and Culture. 5. Clonal Propagation. 6. Special Cultures. 7. Secondary Metabolite Production. 8. Pathology. 9. Nitrogen Fixation. 10. Storage of Cultures. 11. Genetic Modification. 12. Epilogue. 13. References. 14. Indices.

In Vitro Culture of Trees

The effects of cocultivation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens, regeneration and selection conditions on the transformation efficiency of citrange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck×Poncirus trifoliata L. Raf.) have been investigated. Factors such as cocultivation period, preculture of explants, use of acetosyringone or feeder plates during cocultivation, cocultivation on a medium rich in auxins, postcultivation in darkness, and different kanamycin concentrations for selection were assessed. A 3-day cocultivation on a medium rich in auxins improved transformation frequencies, since it increased the number of dividing cells competent for transformation, at the cut ends of the explants. Exposure of explants to darkness for 4 weeks on selection medium resulted in further callus development and increased the regeneration frequency of transgenic shoots. Furthermore, this treatment drastically reduced the number of regenerated escape shoots. A transformation efficiency of 41.3% was achieved using the optimized transformation procedure.

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of citrange: factors affecting transformation and regeneration

The encapsulation technology in fruit plants--a review.

Factors influencing transformation frequencies using the Agrobacterium-mediated protocol developed for Citrus seedling internodal stem segments in this laboratory were evaluated, with particular emphasis on decreasing the numbers of ``escape'' shoots produced. Although the use of a wild-type ``shooty'' Agrobacterium strain allowed relatively high frequencies of β-glucuronidase positive (GUS+) shoots to be produced, none of the shoots were free of wild-type T-DNA and would not root. Both use of a liquid medium/kanamycin overlay and horizontal placement of stem segments increased the efficiency of kanamycin selection. Wounding via particle bombardment prior to Agrobacterium inoculation did not increase transformation frequencies. The concentration of benzyladenine (BA) in the regeneration/selection medium inversely influenced the numbers of shoots that regenerated and the subsequent ability of the shoots to root. Regeneration in the presence of kanamycin also influenced the ability of shoots to root. Many of the shoots that regenerated on selection medium were chimeric for GUS expression, and plants established from such shoots ranged from non-staining to solidly staining for GUS. However, solidly transformed plants with integrated T-DNA were obtained, and these plants have maintained the expression of transgenes over several years. The transgenic plants include ones of sour orange (C. aurantium L.) and Key lime (C. aurantifolia (Christm.) Swing.), two species not previously transformed, and have integrated and express the coat protein gene of citrus tristeza virus. This is the first report of a potentially agriculturally important transgene being expressed in Citrus.

Factors affecting Agrobacterium-mediated transformation in Citrus and production of sour orange (Citrus aurantium L.) plants expressing the coat protein gene of citrus tristeza virus

High efficiency Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and regeneration of citrus

Soil salinity significantly limits citrus production in many areas worldwide. Carrizo citrange, considered an excellent citrus rootstock, is very sensitive to salt stress, which restricts its use i...

Generation of transgenic citrus plants with the tolerance-to-salinity gene HAL2 from yeast.

The mandarin triploid breeding program in Spain.

Cryopreservation of ovules and somatic embryos from several genotypes of citrus was achieved using the encapsulation-dehydration technique. Survival of cryopreserved ovules was occasional and erratic after different pregrowth conditions in liquid medium with 0.75M, 1M or up to 1.25M sucrose. An efficient cryopreservation protocol was established for somatic embryos derived from two embryogenic sources (ovules and cut thin layer explants from stigma, style and ovaries). High survival rates (75-100%) were consistently obtained after 1 day pregrowth in 0.75M sucrose, desiccation down to 20-25% moisture content in the beads and direct immersion in liquid nitrogen. The histological study showed that embryos subjected to the encapsulation-dehydration, accumulated high sucrose levels which appear to ensure the recovery of the whole embryo after cryopreservation.

Cryopreservation of ovules and somatic embryos of citrus using the encapsulation-dehydration technique.

Production of roots and regeneration of shoots and buds was reduced as a result of virus infection. The number of explants showing morphogenesis and the amount of rooting and/or regeneration of shoots and buds were affected as compared with the uninfected explants cultured as controls. The effects on morphogenic patterns depended on the virus, the virus strain, and the host. Explants infected with CIVV produced significantly less primary callus than did the controls, whereas CTV did not affect callus induction. The amount and morphology of secondary callus after periodic subculturing was similar in infected and uninfected tissues

C. Ortega

Papers

High efficiency Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and regeneration of citrus

Generation of transgenic citrus plants with the tolerance-to-salinity gene HAL2 from yeast.

The mandarin triploid breeding program in Spain.

Cryopreservation of ovules and somatic embryos of citrus using the encapsulation-dehydration technique.

Growth and morphogenesis of citrus tissue cultures infected with citrus tristeza virus and citrus infectious variegation virus