Some effects of plant growth regulators on tissue cultures of the marine red alga Agardhiella subulata (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta)

Abstract

We examined whether auxins and cytokinins, either singly or in combination, stimulate cell division in tissue cultures of a red seaweed. Our experimental model consisted of filamentous and callus-like growths that developed from cross-sectional discs cut from young branches of Agardhiella subulata. Plant growth regulators were added to the medium to give combinations of an auxin with a cytokinin over a range of concentrations (1 µg L⁻¹ −10 mg L⁻¹). Several mixtures of auxins and cytokinins, as well as some single auxins, cytokinins and phenolics, stimulated cell division and growth in the tissue cultures beyond that of controls. The treatments that were effective included: phenylacetic acid/zeatin; phenylacetic acid/6-benzylaminopurine; α-naphthaleneacetic acid/zeatin; 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid/6-benzylaminopurine; and indoleacetic acid/kinetin. High concentrations of cytokinins (i.e. 10 mg L⁻¹) inhibited the regeneration of plants in some of the cell cultures. These results provide further evidence that growth regulators can be used for the tissue culture of seaweeds and for the study of developmental phenomena in these plants.