In vitro cell and tissue culture of the Cereus peruvianus Mill. (Cactaceae) for the conservation and management of biodiversity: current status.

摘要

In vitro callus tissue culture of Cereus peruvianus have been a faster and efficient method for clonal multiplication of plants. The plants genetically uniform can be used as source of chemical compounds for the cosmetic, food, and pharmaceutical industry. Besides, a proportion of regenerated plants from callus (somaclones: R0) have showed somaclonal variation and higher genetic diversity than the plants growing in natural habitats. Genetic diversity of R0 plants have been in part transferred to R1 descendents and thus in vitro regenerated plants represent a genetic potential for broadening the genetic basis of species and to stimulate genetic breeding programs. On the other hand, the morphologically undifferentiated cells of nonregenerant callus tissue were used as a source of alkaloid, fatty acids (linoleic acid and unusual fatty acids) and polysaccharides. Cell suspension culture from callus was also established and alkaloid production from cell suspension culture showed that the level of alkaloids was three times higher in cell suspension than in callus, and extra-cellular accumulation of the alkaloid may be directly recovered from the culture medium. Suspension cell culture from callus also can be a source for enzyme extraction and the cells were capable of biotransforming chemical precursors. Thus, callus and the suspension cell cultures of C. peruvianus can be used as source of alkaloids, fatty acids, and polysaccharides in placed of plant shoots growing in natural habitats. Use of in vitro cell and tissue cultures to obtain chemical compounds represent a manner to conservation of plants growing in its natural habitats.