Stipagrostis pennata (Trin.) De Winter Artificial Seed Production and Seedlings Multiplication in Temporary Immersion Bioreactors

This study was conducted to develop the protocol for artificial seed production of Stipagrostis pennata (Trin.) De Winter via somatic embryo encapsulation as well as test a temporary bioreactor system for germination and seedling growth. Embryogenic calli were encapsulated using sodium alginate and calcium chloride and then sowed in the Murashige and Skoog (MS) germination medium in in vitro cultures. The experiments were conducted as a factorial based on a completely randomized design with three replications. The treatments include three concentrations of sodium alginate (1.5%, 2.5%, and 3.5%), two ion exchange times (20 and 30 min), and two artificial seed germination media (hormone-free MS and MS supplemented with zeatin riboside and L-proline). Germination percentage and number of days needed until the beginning of germination were studied. The highest percentage of artificial seed germination was obtained when 2.5% sodium alginate was used for 30 min (ion exchange time) and when the seeds were placed on the MS germination medium supplemented with zeatin riboside and L-proline. The results of the analysis of variance in the temporary immersion bioreactor system showed that the main effects observed on the seedling growth were associated with different growth hormones in culture media and the number of feeding cycles. Experimental results also indicated that the total protein analyses of zygotic seedlings and seedlings originating from the synthetic seeds showed no statistically significant differences between these samples.