Effects of activated charcoal in anther cultures

Abstract

Embryogenesis in anther cultures of Anemone Canadensis L., Anemone hupehensis Lemoine and Nicotiana tabacum L. was shown to be inhibited by abscisic acid added to the medium. However, this inhibition was reduced in the presence of activated charcoal (AC). The presence of AC in the culture medium strongly promoted embryogenesis in anther cultures of Anemone Canadensis compared with other media combinations. Treatment of the agar medium with AC, which was removed before inoculation of the anthers, also stimulated embryogenesis, but treatment of the water constituent did not. The number of embryos produced in anther cultures of Anemone Canadensis and Nicotiana tabacum was shown to be positively related to the length of lime of incubation on medium supplemented with AC. In the case of Anemone Canadensis the stimulating effect of AC was most pronounced when the first visible embryos had emerged. The presence of anther‐derived embryos from Anemone Canadensis in anther cultures of Anemone Canadensis and Nicotiana tabacum was shown to inhibit embryogenesis. It was also demonstrated that embryos from anther cultures of Anemone canadensis, Papaver setigerum DC and Clematis viticella L. produced phenolic substances, and that the concentration of these substances was higher in culture medium lacking AC. Treatment of such medium with AC could reduce the concentration of phenolic substances by more than 80%.