Effects of Different Mass Concentrations of Cu²⁺ and Ag⁺ on the Tissue Culture Characteristics of Barley Mature Embryos

Purpose To investigate the effects of different mass concentrations of Cu²⁺ and Ag⁺ on the tissue culture characteristics of barley mature embryos.

Methods Three barley genotypes, including Guangtoudamai, Beiqing No.7 and Bowman, were used to evaluated the effects of different mass concentrations of Cu²⁺ and Ag⁺ on the callus induction rate, rooting rate, shooting rate, browning rate, green-dot rate, redifferentiation rate and wet weight of callus of the barley mature embryos.

Results The seven tissue culture characteristics were different among the mature embryos of Bowman, Beiqing No.7 and Guangtoudamai. Compared with the control, the rooting rate was reduced with 10.43%, shooting rate was reduced with 7.48%, browning rate was reduced with 8.24%, and wet weight of callus reduced with 20.74 mg, under 0.75 mg/L Cu²⁺. Under 4.00 mg/L Ag⁺, the callus induction rate was increased with 6.47%, rooting rate was reduced with 9.08%, shooting rate was reduced with 7.96%, and browning rate was reduced with 9.67%. The 0.75 mg/L Cu²⁺ and 4.00 mg/L Ag⁺ treatment did not showed any inhibition for the green-dot rate, redifferentiation rate and wet weight of per unit callus.

Conclusion Cu²⁺ and Ag⁺ with appropriate mass concentration can effectively inhibit the rooting, shooting of barley mature embryo and callus browning, and Ag⁺ can also effectively improve the callus induction rate; the appropriate mass concentrations of Cu²⁺ and Ag⁺ in MS medium used to induce barley mature embryo callus and redifferentiate the calluses are 0.75 and 4.00 mg/L, respectively. The results can provide theoretical support for the construction of a callus induction and redifferentiation technology system for barley mature embryo.