Apical Callus Formation In Solieria-Filiformis (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) Cultured In Tanks

Abstract

Loose-lying wild plants of the carragenophyte Solieria filiformis (Kutzing) Gabrielson were cultivated under greenhouse conditions in 600 1 tanks in stationary and turbulent cultures, produced either by air bubbling or water jets at the bottom of the tanks. One week after inoculation 90.3% of the apices of the plants grown in air turbulent cultures initiated the formation of callus. The apices were not broken and apparently non-wounded. No callus formation were observed from a few accidentaly broken apices in any culture. Only 4% of the apices in water turbulent cultures induced callus. Reorganization of branches from the calli took place after three weeks. Organogenetic calli detached from the mother plant after four weeks and formed spherical masses of 3 cm in diameter growing as unattached balls. Cellular disorganization (i.e. callus formation) in S.filiformis seems to be a consequence of intermittent abrasion or contact stimuli against tank walls produced by turbulence.