PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND MORPHOGENETIC POTENTIAL OF LONG-TERM CULTURED CELL LINES IN BRYOPHYTES

Abstract

  Bryophyte cultured cells of 13 lines subcultured for different periods were investigated with regard to their growth characteristics, chlorophyll content and morphogenetic potential. The fastest growth (doubling time of 3 days) was observed in two cell lines of the Marchantia A18 (subculture periods of 19 years) and Ricciocarpus Rn (subculture periods of 15 months). The requirement of inorganic nitrogen sources for cell growth differed among the different species used. High chlorophyll content per dry weight was obtained in Atrichum AuP (22.8μg/mg), Plagiochila Plo (21.3μg/mg) and Jungermannia JsO (21.1μg/mg) cell lines. Morphogenetic potential was confirmed in four cell lines of Pellia PeD and Pn, Marchantia MpK and Polytrichum Poc. The other cell lines had lost that potential. A loss of morphogenetic potential in bryophyte cultured cells was related closely to chromosome aberrations and long-term subculture with the exception of Atrichum AuP.