Biochemical peculiarity of in vitro morphogenesis under conservation strategy of Ruscus aculeatus L.

Abstract

The present study is part of the actual concerns in biodiversity conservation of endangered angyosperm species from the Comana Natural Park. Ruscus aculeatus L. species is protected both at national and European level (trough Habitats Directive of EU and Bern Convention). The aspects of in vitro morphogenesis through all the stages from inoculation, multiplication to rooting and acclimatization have been studied. In order to long term conservation and multiplication or to exploit somaclonal variation induced by in vitro technique is required the identification of some biochemical or molecular markers for fast evaluation of regenerants. In this respect, genetic stability or variability of Ruscus aculeatus plants collected from three populations and regenerants obtained in vitro culture was estimated by electrophoretical methods. Therefore, zymograms of different enzymes as esterase, acid and alkaline phosphatase, glutamate-oxaloacetate transferase, malate dehydrogenase and peroxidase were analyzed. The expression of esterases, phosphatases, malate dehydrogenases displayed changes in correlation with growth condition, while the peroxidases pattern was more stabile in natural population as well as in vitro regenerated plantlet.