Acclimatization, survival and growth of in vitro grown Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings after transplanting to soil.

Abstract

Plants grown in vitro have a different morphology, physiology and anatomy than plants grown in soil. In vitro grown plants usually have non-functional stomata, a weak root system with poor conductivity, a poorly developed cuticle with less epicuticular waxes and are often hyperhydric due to special conditions in vitro. These aberrations prevent proper acclimatization from in vitro to ex vitro conditions. Arabidopsis thaliana displays the same problems when cultivated in vitro and transferred to soil. Due to natural variation in genotype the different ecotypes Kashmir-1 (KAS-1) and Shahdara (Shah) display differences in ability to acclimatize dependent on the time spent in vitro. Growth parameters in Shah decreased compared to the control group, while growth parameters of KAS-1 did not decrease compared to the control group. Growth parameters of both ecotypes correlating well with shoot development, chlorophyll fluorescence and stomata development.