Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Biotechnological Approaches Towards Micropropagation and Conservation of Cycads and Ephedrales

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Biotechnology and Biodiversity

Part of the book series: Sustainable Development and Biodiversity ((SDEB,volume 4))

  • 1566 Accesses

Abstract

Cycads are woody plants, usually trees, which on casual observation resemble palms since many have a stock cylindrical stem bearing a crown of very large, coarse, palm-like leaves. The cycads also attract a great deal of scientific attention because they have retained the ciliated sperms. Cycads, the only surviving representative of the class Cycadophyta, are facing extinction from their natural habitats. In order to conserve these “living fossils”, immediate steps are needed to propagate them. Ephedra is the only genus belonging to the family Ephedraceae. It comprises nearly 68 species widely distributed in the arid regions of New World and Old World. The major active ingredients of Ephedra are alkaloids and are referred to as ephedrine type alkaloids. Ephedra has been used for more than 5000 years in China and India to treat various ailments. It has also been an ingredient in many dietary supplements and used for weight loss, increased energy, and enhanced athletic performance. Its excess use as medicine has intensified the pressure of landscapes bearing these species. This has necessitated bioprospection and active planning to ensure safe conservation of the existing gene pool and sustainable utilization of this land resource. Ex-situ conservation of germplasm can be achieved using biotechnological approaches such as tissue culture techniques. Hence it is important that biotechnological tools be employed for micropropagation of selected plants and for establishment of germplasm banks. Present review describes various biotechnological aspects related to conservation of Cycads and Ephedra.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Ahmedullah M, Nayar MP (1986) A vanishing endemic cycad of Indian Peninsula. Bull Bot Surv India 28:169–170

    Google Scholar 

  • Attree SM, Fowke LC (1993) Embryogeny of gymnosperms: advances in synthetic seed technology of conifers. Plant Cell Tissue Organ Cult 35:1–15

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ball EA, Morris DM, Rydelius JA (1978) Cloning of Sequoia sempervirens from mature trees through tissue culture. Round Table Conf In vitro Multiplication of Woody Species. Gembloux, Belgium, pp 181–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhatnagar SP, Moitra A (1996) Gymnosperms. New Age International, New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhatnagar SP, Singh MN (1984) Organogenesis in the cultured female gametophytes of Ephedra foliata. J Exp Bot 35:268–278

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blumenthal M, King P (1995) Ma Huang: ancient herb, modern medicine, regulatory dilemma; a review of the botany, chemistry, medicinal uses, safety concerns, and legal status of Ephedra and its alkaloids. Herbal Gram 34:22

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown CL (1966) Growth and development of Zamia embryos in vitro. South Am Soc Plant Physiol Proc. ASAW. Jackson, MI, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown CL, Teas HJ (1966) Cycad tissue culture on a defined medium. South Am Soc Plant Physiol Proc ASAW. Jackson, MI, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Chamberlain CJ (1935) Gymnosperms: structure and evolution. Chicago University Press, Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  • Chavez VM, Litz RE, Moon PA, Norstog K (1992a) Somatic embryogenesis from leaf callus of the gymnosperm Ceratozamia mexicana var. robusta (Miq.) Dyer (Cycadales). In Vitro Cell Dev Biol 28:59–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chavez VM, Litz RE, Norstog K (1992b) In vitro morphogenesis of Ceratozamia hildae and C. mexicana from megagametophytes and zygotic embryos. Plant Cell Tissue Organ Cult 30:93–98

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chavez VM, Litz RE, Norstog K (1992c) Somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis in Zamia fischeri, Z. furfuracea and Z. pumila. Plant Cell Tissue Organ Cult 30:99–105

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chavez VM, Litz RE, Marques J (1995) Histology of somatic embryos of cycad Ceratozamia mexicana var. robusta. Plant Sci 108:191–200

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Luca PA, Sabato S (1980) Regeneration of coralloid root on cycad megagametophytes. Plant Sci Lett 18:27–31

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Luca P, Moretti A, Sabato S (1979) Regeneration in megagametophytes of cycads. G Bot Ital 113:129–143

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Luca P, Sabato S, Balduzzi A, Nazzaro P (1980) Coralloid root regeneration of Macrozamia megagametophytes. Giorn Bot Ital 114: 271–275

    Google Scholar 

  • Dhiman M, Sharma V (2010) Regeneration of plants from somatic embryos derived from stem culture in Ephedra foliata. In: Islam AS, Haque MM, Saeker RH, Hoque MI (eds) Role of biotechnology in food security and climate change. Proceeding of sixth international plant tissue culture & biotechnology conference, 3–5 Dec 2010, Bangladesh Assoc. Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech, Dhaka, Bangladesh, pp 19–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Dhiman M, Moitra S, Singh MN, Bhatnagar SP (1998a) In vitro studies on some non coniferous gymnosperms. Curr Sci 75:1113–1115

    Google Scholar 

  • Dhiman M, Moitra S, Singh MN, Bhatnagar SP (1998b) Formation of somatic embryos leaf callus of Zamia furfuracea. L-A preliminary report. Phytomorphology 48:317–322

    Google Scholar 

  • Dhiman M, Moitra S, Singh MN, Bhatnagar SP (2000) Organogenesis in female gametophyte and embryo culture of cycads: Cycas circinalis and Zamia intergrifolia. J Biochem Biotech 9:111–113

    Google Scholar 

  • Dhiman M, Sharma V, Moitra S (2010) Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in Ephedra foliata (Boiss.); a non coniferous gymnosperm. Plant Tissue Cult Biotech 20:133–143

    Google Scholar 

  • Duchartre MP 1888 Note sur l’enranciment de l’albumen d’un Cycas. Bull Soc Bot Fr 35:243–251

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fosberg FR (1964) Resume of cycadaceae. Proceeding of third conference on the toxicity of cycads, Chicago 23:1340–1342

    Google Scholar 

  • Garla M, Pratush A, Kumar S, Singh S, Shivani (2011) In-vitro callus induction and shoot regeneration in Ephedra—a medicinal plant. Ann Biol Res 2, 6:645–651

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert S (1984) Cycads: status, trade, exploitation and protection. 1977–1982. World Wildlife Fund, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Gupta PK, Pullman G, Timmis R, Kreitinger M, Carlson WC, Grob J, Welty E (1993) Forestry in the 21st century. The biotechnology of somatic embryogenesis. Biotechnology 11:454–459

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hegazi GA, El-Lamey TM (2011) Callus induction and extraction of ephedrine from Ephedra alata Decne. culture. Am-Eurasian J Agric Environ Sci 11(1):19–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Jager AK, van Staden J (1996a) Somatic embryogenesis in Encephalartos cycadifolius. Plant Cell Rep 15:437–440

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jager AK, van Staden J (1996b) Somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis in Encephalartos dyerianus and E. natalensis. Plant Cell Tissue Organ Cult 45:99–102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jain SM, Gupta PK, Newton RJ (1995) Somatic embryogenesis in woody plants, vol 3. Gymnosperms. Kluwer, Dordrecht

    Google Scholar 

  • Josefson D (1996) Herbal stimulant causes US deaths. BMJ 312:1378–1379

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khanna P, Uddin A (1976) Production of ephedrine from In vitro tissue culture of E. foliata Boiss. Proc Indian Sci Cong 62:93

    Google Scholar 

  • Kobayashi A, Tadera K, Yagi F (1980) Toxic effect of cycasin, the glycoside of cycad plant, upon several biology species. In: Eaker D, Wadstorm DT (eds) Natural toxins. Pergamon, Oxford, pp 647–654

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Koeleman A, Small JGC (1982) A note on callus formation by stem and root tissues of some Encephalartos spp. S Afr J Bot 1:165–166

    Google Scholar 

  • Konar RN, Singh MN (1979) Production of plantlets from the female gametophyte of E. foliata Boiss. Z Pflanzenphysiol 95:87–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laliberte S, Bertrand C, Veith H (1983) Callogenesis and degree of differentiation in endosperm culture of Encephalartos villosus. Rev Can Biol Exp 42:7–12

    Google Scholar 

  • La Rue CD (1948) Regeneration in the megagametophytes of Zamia floridana. Bull Torrey Bot Club 75:597–603

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • La Rue CD (1950) Regeneration in Cycas. Am J Bot 37:664

    Google Scholar 

  • La Rue CD (1954) Studies on growth and regeneration in gametophytes and sporophytes of gymnosperms. Brookhaven Symp Biol 6:187–208

    Google Scholar 

  • Leung AY, Foster S (1996) Ephedra. Encyclopedia of common natural ingredients used in foods, drugs and cosmetics. Wiley, New York, p 227

    Google Scholar 

  • Litz RE, Moon PA, Chavez VM (1995a) Somatic embryogenesis from leaf callus derived from mature trees of the cycads Ceratozamia hildae (Gymnospermae). Plant Cell Tissue Organ Cult 40:25–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Litz RE, Moon PA, Chavez VM (1995b) Somatic embryogenesis in the Cycadales. In: Jain SM, Gupta PK, Newton RJ (eds) Somatic embryogenesis in woody plants. Kluwer, Dordrecht, pp 1–15

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Lodha D, Rathore N, Kataria V, Shekhawat NS (2014) In vitro propagation of female Ephedra foliata Boiss. & Kotschy ex bioss.: an endemic and threatened gymnosperm of the thar desert. Physiol Mol Biol Plants DOI 10.1007/s12298-014-0232-8

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahdihassan S (1981) The tradition of alchemy in India. Am J Chin Med 9:23–33

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mahdihassan S, Mehdi FS (1989) Soma of the Rigveda and an attempt to identify it. Am J Chin Med 17:1–8

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Monnier M, Norstog K (1984) Development aspect of immature Zamia embryos culture in vitro. Z Pflanzenphysiol 113:105–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morton JF (1977) Ephedra. Major medicinal plants-botany, culture and uses. Thomas, Springfield, pp 33–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Nishi T (1974) Requirement of organic factors for the growth of Ephedra tissues cultured in vitro. Bot Mag Tokyo 87:337–340

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Norstog K (1965) Induction of apogamy in megagametophytes of Zamia integrifolia. Am J Bot 52:993–999

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Norstog K, Rhamstine E (1967) Isolation and culture of haploid and diploid cycad tissues. Phytomorphology 17:374–381

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Dowd NA, Richardson DHS (1993a) In vitro organogenesis of Ephedra. Phytomorphology 43:19–24

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Dowd NA, Richardson DHS (1993b) In vitro micropropogation of Ephedra. J Horticult Sci 68:1013–1020

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Dowd NA, Richardson DHS (1994) Production of tumours and roots by Ephedra following Agrobacterium rhizogenes infection. Can J Bot 72:203–207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Dowd NA, Mc Cauley PG, Richardson DHS, Wilson G (1993) Callus production, suspension culture and in vitro alkaloid yields of Ephedra. Plant Cell Tissue Organ Cult 34:149–155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osborne R, van Staden J (1987) In vitro regeneration of Stangeria eriopus. Horticult Sci 22:1626

    Google Scholar 

  • Pant DD (1996) Indian cycads cry for protection. Curr Sci 71:513–515

    Google Scholar 

  • Pena E, Grillo E, Perez D (1982) Proliferation of Microcycas calocoma in vitro. Rev Jard Bot Nacl 3:177–196

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramawat KG, Arya HC (1976) Growth and morphogenesis in callus cultures of Ephedra gerardiana. Phytomorphology 26:395–403

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramawat KG, Arya HC (1977) Carbohydrate nutrition of Ephedra tissue grown in culture. Indian J Exp Biol 15:524–527

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ramawat KG, Arya HC (1979a) Alkaloid content of Ephedra in vivo and in vitro. Indian J Exp Biol 17:106–107

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ramawat KG, Arya HC (1979b) Effect of some growth regulators on ephedrine production in Ephedra gerardiana callus cultures. Indian J Exp Biol 17:227–228

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ramawat KG, Arya HC (1979c) Effect of amino acid on ephedrine production in Ephedra gerardiana callus culture. Phytochemistry 18:484–485

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ramawat KG, Arya HC (1979d) Nitrogen nutrition of Ephedra tissues grown in culture. Phytomorphology 9:5–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Rinaldi LMR, Leva AR (1990) Regeneration in vitro of Cycas revoluta. Flortecnica 11:2–5

    Google Scholar 

  • Rinaldi LMR, Leva AR (1995) In vitro organogenesis from diploid tissues of Cycas revolute Thunb. Plant Cell Tissue Organ Cult 43:37–41

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sahni KC (1990) Gymnosperms of India and adjacent countries. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun

    Google Scholar 

  • Sankhla N, Sankhla D, Chatterji UN (1967a) In vitro induction of proliferation in female gametophyte tissues of Ephedra foliata Boiss. Naturwissenchaften 54:203

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sankhla N, Sankhla D, Chatterji UN (1967b) Production of plantlets from callus derived from root tip of excised embryos of Ephedra foliata Boiss. Naturwissenchaften 54:349–350

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saxton WT (1910) The development of the embryo of Encephalartos. Bot Gaz 49:13–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma V, Dhiman M (2010) Distribution, phylogeny and phytochemistry of Ephedra; a traditional medicinal plant. In: Kumar M, Gupta RK (eds) Diversity of higher plants. IK International Publishing House, New Delhi, pp 226–240

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma P, Uniyal PL (2008) Ephedra sumlingenesis (Ephedraceae) Sharma and Uniyal-a new species from Himachal Pradesh, India. Bull Bot Surv India 50:1–6

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma P, Uniyal PL, Hammer O (2010) Two new species of Ephedra (Ephedraceae) from the western Himalayan region. Syst Bot 35:730–735

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma V, Dhiman M, Gupta SK (2012) Regeneration of plants from nodal and internodal segment cultures of Ephedra gerardiana using Thidiazuron. Plant Tissue Cult Biotech 22(2):153–161

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh MN, Konar RN (1981) In vitro induction of haploid roots and shoots from female gametophyte of Ephedra foliata Boiss. Beitr Biol Pflanzen 55:169–177

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh MN, Konar RN, Bhatnagar SP (1981) Haploid plantlet formation from female gametophyte of Ephedra foliata Boiss. in vitro. Ann Bot 48:215–220

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevenson DW, Osborne R (1993) The world list of cycads. In: Stevenson DW, Norstog KG (eds) Proc Cycad 90, The Second International Conference on Cycad Biology. Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia Ltd, pp 354–364

    Google Scholar 

  • Straus J, Gerding RK (1963) Auxin oxidase and growth control in tissue cultures of Ephedra. Plant Physiol 38:621–627

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Soni MG, Carabin IG, Griffiths JC, Burdock GA (2004) Safety of Ephedra: lessons learned. Toxicol Lett 150:97–110

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tadera K, Yagi F, Minemoto S, Kobayashi A (1982) Inhibitory effect of cycasin on germination, growth and a-amylose biosynthesis in rice plants. Agric Biol Chem 46:1453–1456

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tadera K, Yagi F, Arima M, Kobayashi A (1985a) Formation of cycasin from methylazoxymethanol by UDP-glucosyltransferase from leaves of Japanese cycad. Agric Biol Chem 49:2827–2828

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tadera K, Yagi F, Kobayashi A (1985b) Effect of cycasin on kojic acid-producing molds. Agric Biol Chem 49:203–205

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tadera K, Terazono H, Yagi F, Kobayashi A (1987) Effect of cycasin on various microorganism. Mem Fac Arg Kagoshima Univ 23:71–80

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tadera K, Giriya H, Sawada R, Motani Y, Aikawa Y, Nozaki A, Yagi F, Minami Y (1995) Cycasin formation in tissue culture of Japanese cycad. Phytochemistry 38:1199–1201

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tautorus TE, Fowke LC, Dunstan DI (1991) Somatic embryogenesis in conifers. Can J For Res 69:1873–1899

    Google Scholar 

  • Uddin A (1977) Production of amino acids in Ephedra foliata suspension cultures. Curr Sci 46:825–826

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe T, Kawaguchi K, Yoshikawa T, Takano A, Kohda H, Malla JK (1996) Studies on the medicinal plant resources of the himalayas (1) in vitro regeneration and alkaloid contents of Ephedra gerardiana wall. Plant Tissue Cult Lett 13:203–206

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Webb DT (1981a) Effect of light quality on root elongation and nodulation of Zamia floridana DC. seedlings in sterile cultures. Z Pflanzenphysiol 104:253–258

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Webb DT (1981b) Effect of light on root nodulation and elongation of seedlings in sterile cultures of Bowenia serrulata. Phytomorphology 31:121–123

    Google Scholar 

  • Webb DT (1982a) Importance of the megagametophyte and cotyledons for root growth of Zamia floridana. DC.embryos in vitro. Z Pflanzenphysiol 106:37–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Webb DT (1982b) Light induction callus formation and root growth inhibition of Dioon edule Lindl. seedlings in sterile culture. Z Pflanzenphysiol 106:223–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Webb DT (1982c) Effect of light on root growth, nodulation, and apogeotropism of Zamia pumila. L.seedings in sterile culure. Am J Bot 69:298–305

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Webb DT (1982d) Effect of light intensity on root growth and nodulation of Zamia floridana embryos in sterile culture. Phytomorphology 32:81–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Webb DT (1983) Nodulation in light- and dark-grown Macrozamia communis L. Johnson seedling in sterile culture. Ann Bot 52:543–547

    Google Scholar 

  • Webb DT (1984) Developmental anatomy and histochemistry of light-induced callus formation by Dioon edule (Zamiaceae) seedling roots in vitro. Am J Bot 71:65–68

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Webb DT, De Jesus S (1982) Root induction in Macrozamia diplomera in sterile culture. Phytomorphology 32:253–256

    Google Scholar 

  • Webb DT, Osborne R (1989) Cycads. In: Bajaj YPS (ed) Biotechnology in agriculture and forestry, vol 5. Trees II. Springer, Berlin, pp 590–613

    Google Scholar 

  • Webb DT, Rivera MS, Starszak E, Matos J (1983) Callus initiation and organized development from Zamia pumila embryo explants. Ann Bot 51:711–717

    Google Scholar 

  • Webb DT, Nevarez M, De Jesus S (1984) Root induction in Macrozamia diplomera in sterile culture. Phytomorphology 32:253–256

    Google Scholar 

  • Yagi F, Tadera K (1987) Azoxyglycoside content in seed of several cycads species and various parts of Japanese cycads. Agric Biol Chem 51:1719–1721

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Kanahiya Lal DAV PG College, 247667, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India

    Manjul Dhiman & Indra Rautela

Authors
  1. Manjul Dhiman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Indra Rautela
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Manjul Dhiman .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Formerly Forestry Consultant Zobel Forestry Associates, New Paltz, New York, USA

    M. R. Ahuja

  2. Botany Department, M.L. Sukhadia University, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

    K.G. Ramawat

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Dhiman, M., Rautela, I. (2014). Biotechnological Approaches Towards Micropropagation and Conservation of Cycads and Ephedrales. In: Ahuja, M., Ramawat, K. (eds) Biotechnology and Biodiversity. Sustainable Development and Biodiversity, vol 4. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09381-9_12

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation