<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>During plant development, woody plants progress from a juvenile phase to the reproductive mature phase. This process is marked by morphological, physiological, and biochemical changes, including loss of competence to vegetative reproduction. During <italic>in vitro</italic> stabilisation, mature tissues undergo rejuvenation, however, the exact degree of juvenility attained is not known and differing regeneration capabilities are observed between genotypes. Markers indicating juvenility state would assist the <italic>in vitro</italic> rejuvenation process and increase the efficiency of successful micropropagation. Several leaf and stem morphological and anatomical traits were analysed as possible juvenility markers in mature and rejuvenated silver birch <italic>in vitro</italic> shoots. The results showed that juvenility state of birch <italic>in vitro</italic> shoots varies between different genotypes and between plants from the same genotype. Mature birch <italic>in vitro</italic> shoots had approximately two times larger and thicker leaves compared to rejuvenated and juvenile shoots. Stem radius, including cortex, phloem, xylem and pith width as well as phloem width : stem radius and phloem width : xylem width ratio was significantly larger in mature shoots. Periderm development and loss of rooting ability were observed in mature shoots. These anatomical and morphological traits could be used as possible juvenility/maturation markers.</p>
</abstract>

During plant development, woody plants progress from a juvenile phase to the reproductive mature phase. This process is marked by morphological, physiological, and biochemical changes, including loss of competence to vegetative reproduction. During in vitro stabilisation, mature tissues undergo rejuvenation, however, the exact degree of juvenility attained is not known and differing regeneration capabilities are observed between genotypes. Markers indicating juvenility state would assist the in vitro rejuvenation process and increase the efficiency of successful micropropagation. Several leaf and stem morphological and anatomical traits were analysed as possible juvenility markers in mature and rejuvenated silver birch in vitro shoots. The results showed that juvenility state of birch in vitro shoots varies between different genotypes and between plants from the same genotype. Mature birch in vitro shoots had approximately two times larger and thicker leaves compared to rejuvenated and juvenile shoots. Stem radius, including cortex, phloem, xylem and pith width as well as phloem width : stem radius and phloem width : xylem width ratio was significantly larger in mature shoots. Periderm development and loss of rooting ability were observed in mature shoots. These anatomical and morphological traits could be used as possible juvenility/maturation markers.

Morphological and Anatomical Juvenility Markers in Silver Birch (<italic>Betula pendula</italic> Roth) <italic>In Vitro</italic> Shoots

Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Section B. Natural, Exact, and Applied Sciences.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Morphological and Anatomical Juvenility Markers in Silver Birch ( Roth)  Shoots

During plant development, woody plants progress from a juvenile phase to the reproductive mature phase. This process is marked by morphological, physiological,...

Morphological and Anatomical Juvenility Markers in Silver Birch (Betula pendula Roth) In Vitro Shoots

Published Online: Jul 05, 2024

Page range: 191 - 196

Received: May 05, 2022

Accepted: Jun 12, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/prolas-2024-0027

Keywords
vegetative reproduction, woody plants, in vitro,

© 2024 Elva Girgžde et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Morphological and Anatomical Juvenility Markers in Silver Birch (Betula pendula Roth) In Vitro Shoots

Published Online: Jul 05, 2024

Page range: 191 - 196

Received: May 05, 2022

Accepted: Jun 12, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/prolas-2024-0027

Keywordsvegetative reproduction, woody plants, in vitro,

© 2024 Elva Girgžde et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
vegetative reproduction, woody plants, in vitro,