Improved shoot organogenesis of Echinacea angustifolia DC treated with ethylene inhibitors

With the goal of achieving better shoot organogenesis and plant regeneration in Echinacea angustifolia, we conducted an experiment to investigate the effect of ethylene inhibitors, including silver nitrate (AgNO3), aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG), and cobalt chloride (CoCl2). Leaf explants were cultured in initial shoot-regeneration media supplemented with different concentrations of AgNO3, AVG, and CoCl2. The addition of ethylene inhibitors improved regeneration frequency, giving a greater number of shoots per explant, and longer shoots. Shoot growth increased with increasing concentrations of ethylene inhibitors, except for CoCl2. The best shoot growth was found when AgNO3 (10 mg/L) was incorporated in the medium. AVG (10 mg/L) produced the second greatest number of shoots. Treatment with CoCl2 did not result in good shoot organogenesis in E. angustifolia. This study suggests that ethylene inhibitors, particularly AgNO3, could be used in a micropropagation and plant transformation protocol for regeneration of E. angustifolia. [Chae SC, Park SU. Improved shoot organogenesis of Echinacea angustifolia DC treated with ethylene inhibitors. Life Sci J 2012;9(4):1725-1728] (ISSN:1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 263