Ramlall Chandika, Singh Nisha, Shaik Shakira
School of Life Sciences University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X54001 Durban South Africa.
Eng Life Sci. 2025 Aug 13;25(8):e70038. doi: 10.1002/elsc.70038. eCollection 2025 Aug.
is an undervalued crop that shows potential for production enhancement due to elevated leaf nutrient accumulative ability. By investigating propagation using various in vitro culture systems, thidiazuron (TDZ)-supplemented nutrient media enhanced yield from 10 plants per explant in semi-solid medium, to 27 under continuous immersion in liquid media in recipient for automated temporary immersion (RITA) bioreactors, to 63 under temporary immersion in liquid media in a balloon-type bubble bioreactor (BTBB). TDZ in the BTBB system also increased shoot biomass and subsequent nutrient content relative to TDZ-free media in ex vitro plants. Ex vitro plants originating from both continuous and temporary media immersion in BTBBs outperformed those in all other culture systems in accumulating leaf Mg, Fe, Ca and Zn to meet the recommended dietary allowance for males and females. The genotypic variance and genetic advance of the mean at 5% selection intensity varied for each nutrient per culture system, with and without TDZ. Selective breeding at 5% selection intensity would improve leaf nutrient content but is specific to the culture system and the presence of TDZ. This is the first study to use liquid-based bioreactor systems for propagation thereby providing new opportunities to upscale plant production for high nutrient-accumulating genotypes. : This study establishes a commercially viable protocol for the large-scale clonal propagation of , a nutrient-rich, fast growing leafy vegetable with untapped agronomic value. Using temporary immersion bioreactors and thidiazuron-supplemented media, the system delivers up to 63 plants per explant, more than 6-fold the yield of conventional methods, while significantly boosting leaf biomass and nutrient content (Mg, Ca, Fe, Zn). These results position as a functional crop for health-focused markets and ready-to-cook vegetable lines. The low-input cultivation needs and rapid production cycle (8 weeks in vitro, 8 weeks ex vitro) make it ideal for high-turnover commercial nurseries, contract growers, and vertical farming operations. The systems reproducibility and high heritability of nutritional traits further support selective breeding programs for premium-value cultivars. This propagation platform offers agribusinesses a scalable entry point into the expanding market for nutrient-dense indigenous vegetables with health and wellness appeal.
是一种被低估的作物，由于其叶片养分积累能力增强，具有提高产量的潜力。通过研究使用各种体外培养系统进行繁殖，添加噻苯隆（TDZ）的营养培养基使半固体培养基中每个外植体的植株产量从10株提高到接受自动临时浸没（RITA）生物反应器中液体培养基连续浸没时的27株，再到气球型气泡生物反应器（BTBB）中液体培养基临时浸没时的63株。与体外培养植物中不含TDZ的培养基相比，BTBB系统中的TDZ还增加了芽生物量和随后的养分含量。源自BTBB中连续和临时培养基浸没的体外培养植物在积累叶片镁、铁、钙和锌以满足男性和女性推荐膳食摄入量方面优于所有其他培养系统。每个培养系统中，无论有无TDZ，5%选择强度下各养分的基因型方差和平均遗传进展各不相同。5%选择强度下的选择育种将提高叶片养分含量，但特定于培养系统和TDZ的存在。这是第一项使用基于液体的生物反应器系统进行繁殖的研究，从而为扩大高养分积累基因型的植物生产提供了新机会。：本研究建立了一种商业可行的方案，用于大规模克隆繁殖，这是一种营养丰富、生长迅速且具有未开发农艺价值的叶菜类蔬菜。使用临时浸没生物反应器和添加噻苯隆的培养基，该系统每个外植体可产出多达63株植物，产量是传统方法的6倍多，同时显著提高了叶片生物量和养分含量（镁、钙、铁、锌）。这些结果使成为以健康为重点的市场和即食蔬菜产品线的功能性作物。低投入的种植需求和快速的生产周期（体外8周，体外8周）使其成为高周转率商业苗圃、合同种植者和垂直农场运营的理想选择。该系统的可重复性和营养性状的高遗传性进一步支持了优质品种的选择育种计划。这个繁殖平台为农业综合企业提供了一个可扩展的切入点，进入具有健康吸引力的营养密集型本土蔬菜不断扩大的市场。
