Morphological, Histochemical and Biochemical Features of Cultivated Rhodiola rosea (Altai Mountains Ecotype).

The study analyzed the content and localization of phenolic compounds, in particular phenylpropanoids, of Rodiola rosea plants of Altai Mountains ecotype during the introduction period of 2-4 years in the conditions of the forest-steppe zone of Western Siberia. The plant material for the introduction experiment was obtained by in vitro method. HPLC was used to identify 11 phenolic compounds, including gallic acid, rosarin, rosavin, rosin, cinnamyl alcohol, rhodiosin, rhodionin, and kaempferol. The highest content of phenylpropenoids was found in rhizomes of the 4-year-old R. rosea plants: 1.02% rosarin, 2.64% rosavin, 1.05% rosin, 3.39% cinnamyl alcohol. Analysis of the phenylpropanoid profile showed that the predominant component in all the studied samples was cinnamyl alcohol (up to 58%). Histochemical studies identified phenolic substances in the rhizomes and roots of R. rosea, which are localized in parenchymal and vascular tissues. It was revealed that the total rhizome biomass exceeded that of the root, and by the 4th year of introduction, it was approximately 2-fold greater in dry weight. The study showed high biosynthetic potential and biological productivity of the studied R. rosea ecotype upon introduction.

[In vitro Regeneration from Bulbous Scales of Fritillaria sonnikovae, an Endemic Species].

Features of in vitro regeneration of Fritillaria sonnikovae from bulb scales were studied. The initiation of shoot formation was obtained on a nutrient medium BDS, supplemented with 5 µM 6-benzylaminopurine and 2 µM α-naphthaleneacetic acid. Optimization of propagation stage was carried out using obtained microbulbs as explants. High regenerative response of explants and shoot multiplication rate were observed on both media supplemented with growth regulators (up to 47% and 4.2 ± 0.6 pcs./explant, respectively) and hormone-free medium (48% and 4.1 ± 0.2 shoots per explant, respectively). It has been established that the ad- dition of growth regulators on the stage of cultivation does not cause increased morphogenic response but contributes to the accelerated initiation and development of microbulbs. Morphological and histological analysis revealed the dynamics of the formation of shoots de novo. In vitro development of F. sonnikovae follows the path of direct organogenesis from the epidermal tissue of the explant.

[Clonal micropropagation of a rare species Hedysarum theinum Krasnob (Fabaceae) and assessment of the genetic stability of regenerated plants using ISSR markers].

In the present study, a protocol was developed for the in vitro propagation of a rare medicinal plant, Hedysarum theinum (tea sweetvetch), from axillary buds, and identification of the regenerants was performed with the use of ISSR markers. It was demonstrated that Gamborg and Eveleigh medium supplemented with 5 µM 6-benzylaminopurine was the best for H. theinum for initial multiplication. On the other hand, half-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with 7 µM α-naphthaleneacetic acid proved to be the best for explant rooting. Molecular genetic analysis of the H. theinum mother plants and the obtained regenerants was performed with six ISSR markers. Depending on the primer, four to ten amplified fragments with sizes ranging from 250 to 3000 bp were identified. Our results confirmed the genetic stability of regenerants obtained in five passages and their identity to the mother plant.