Evaluation of biochemical methods used in biological advancement of milk thistle (Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertner) Silma variety through induced genomic mutations and bioconditioning – nutripriming of seeds.Part 1. Screening observational studies
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: SummaryIntroduction: The continuous development of knowledge and biopractice in the use of agricultural, horticultural, and herbal strong and resistant plant varieties in response to the needs of modern agriculture, which are characterized by extreme weather and climatic events that contribute to economic and food losses, can be attributed to biological progress in useful plants. Seed bioconditioning, which includes nutripriming, and gene mutations can be employed to enhance the characteristics of beneficial plants, either individually or in combination. Modifying plant ploidy levels has been employed as a strategy to alter the quantitative and qualitative biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in various medicinal plants, as they are associated with morphological and biochemical traits. Chromosome augmentation is employed in plant breeding to enhance the morphological traits and increase the levels of target compounds.Objective: The goal of the screening studies is multi-stage testing aimed at developing an effective method for inducing polyploidy in Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn (milk thistle, var. SILMA IWNiRZ-PIB), an important medicinal plant with high economic, horticultural, and pharmaceutical importance. Additionally, a secondary objective is to evaluate additional beneficial substances (mediators, enhancers) of natural origin (and others for comparison) in order to enhance the physiological processes of young plants and improve aspects of seed germination biology. This will serve as a foundation for breeding and the acquisition of valuable raw materials. Methods: The research conducted spanned four experimental stages: 1) screening preliminary evaluation of methods for testing biochemical methods for inducing plant polyploidy, including preliminary analysis of seed colchicine efficiency, analysis of plant survival after soaking plants (0.01%, 0.1%, 0.25%, 0.5%) and seeds in colchicine (0.1%–3%) at increasing time intervals (3–20 hours), macroscopic and microscopic analysis of the characteristics of seedlings and obtained plants; 2) evaluation of modified biochemical protocols for inducing artificial plant polyploidization, including testing of modified biochemical methods for inducing polyploidy, macroscopic and microscopic analysis; 3) evaluation of biostimulating methods to accelerate seed germination and root development to eliminate colchicine inhibition, including testing of modified biochemical methods using biostimulants (nutripriming), macroscopic and microscopic analysis; 4) collective cytogenetic analysis of the efficacy of the biochemical method of inducing chemical mutations (flow cytometry). Results: A total of 105 groups of seeds and young plants were tested (85 and 20 groups, respectively). The SILMA variety was more responsive to the tested antimitotic agents than the new SILMA SIV line, as shown by a comprehensive analysis of the biochemical, microscopic-macroscopic, and cytogenetic test results. Colchicine was found to be safer for the plant material than oryzalin. The germination of plants was inhibited by colchicine and oryzalin at progressively higher concentrations and seed soaking times, as well as when young plants were sprayed or soaked. Pretreatment of seeds with salicylic acid (5%) and ascorbic acid (10%) was found to stimulate germination, despite the inhibitory effect of colchicine. Next, 24 seed pre-soaking procedures (bioconditioning – nutripriming) were conducted and compared. The aim of the tests was to improve root development, which was inhibited by colchicine treatment. The results indicated that the hypocotyledonous portion of young plants was significantly shortened by the tested substances (citric acid, ascorbic acid, salicylic acid, arginine, yeast extract, spirulina extract), which significantly improved root development and accelerated leaf development. Additionally, the hypocotyledonous thickness of plants was most effectively affected by the seed pre-soaking (1% citric acid, 5% salicylic acid, 1% spirulina extract) prior to colchicine treatment. The biochemical treatments used resulted in the production of 43 mixoploids (sectarian and mericlinal chimeras) containing primarily diploid and tetraploid genomes. Conclusion: These findings suggest that additional research is required to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the raw materials obtained from plants following biochemical treatments, utilizing physiological selection and phytochemical analyses.
Source: Herba Polonica
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7130518073