In-Vitro Production of Anthocyanin in Sesbania grandiflora ( Red Katuray ) as Influenced by Varying Concentrations of 2 , 4-D and BA Added on MS Medium

The study aimed to determine the anthocyanin content in callus cultures of Sesbania grandiflora L. (Red Katuray) using petal explants as influenced by 2,4-D and BA. The specific objective of this study is to determine the effect of plant growth regulators specifically auxin (2,4-D) and BA (Benzyladenine) on Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium in anthocyanin production. Earliest callus initiation was noted in 2.5 ppm to 5.0 ppm 2,4-D without BA and 2.5 ppm 2,4-D with 2.5 ppm BA. Same treatment combination had the highest degree of callus formation and obtained the greatest percentage of callus formation 2.5 ppm 2,4-D without BA and 2.5 ppm 2,4-D with 2.5 ppm BA. The heaviest weight of callus was registered at 2.5 ppm 2,4-D without BA. Significantly higher anthocyanin content was noted in 2.5 ppm to 5.0 ppm 2,4-D without or with 2.5 ppm BA, with 2.5 and 5.0 ppm BA and with 5.0 ppm 2,4-D and 2.5 ppm BA. There is a positive relationship between callus formation and anthocyanin production. Results showed that treatments that promoted significantly greater callus formation e.g. 2.5 ppm 2,4-D alone or in combination with 2.5 ppm BA also produced the highest anthocyanin content.


Introduction
The popularity of natural anthocyanin is increasing due to its numerous beneficial effects to human health and well-being.These include protection from DNA cleavage, al-tering development of hormone-dependent diseases, enzyme inhibition, regulating immune response, decrease permeability and fragility, and strengthening membrane [1].Recently, anthocyanin has demonstrated marked ability to reduce cancer cell proliferation and to inhibit tumor formation.Thus, with the importance of anthocyanin, it is important to identify whether processes that will enhance its production are necessary.
Callus cultures as a wide and diverse range of plant genera have been done to produce anthocyanin pigments in vitro.This plant cell culture production system was to explore an alternative resource to establish a protocol that would enhance the production of anthocyanin.Recently, some anthocyanin-producing plant species have been intensively cultured in vitro in order to harness the bioactive pigments and related phytochemicals as medicinally-active compounds.By controlling both the physical and the chemical microenvironment of the plant cell cultures, anthocyanin production is boosted to higher concentrations than available in the parent plant in vivo.One of the most important features of callus culture technology is the production of anthocyanin and other secondary metabolites in a short period, therefore, can be mass produced commercially for continuous supply.

Research Problem
This experiment dealt with the effect of different concentrations of 2,4-D and Benzyladenine (BA) on callus formation and anthocyanin content.

Media Preparation
Murashige and Skoog's [2] basal nutrient solution was used for callus induction of petal explant with varying levels of 2,4-D (0, 2.5; 5.0; 7.5; 10 ppm) and BA (0; 2.5; 5.0 ppm) added singly or in combination.Coconut water (15%) was supplied in the medium as additive.Sucrose (2%) was added as carbon source.The medium was solidified with agar-agar (0.6%).Then, the pH of the medium was adjusted to 5.7.Twenty ml of aliquots was dispensed in clean culture bottles, covered with autoclavable polyprophylene plastic and paper, and tightened with rubber band.The medium was autoclaved in the pressure cooker for 30 minutes at 15 psi.After autoclaving, the medium was cooled and was inoculated with excised sections of petal explants.

Establishment of Sterile Cultures
Surface sterilized petal explants were cultured on MS basal medium in a bottle.Cultures were incubated under continuous light in an air conditioned room.Contamination and survival were observed, if contaminated, cultures were immediately separated and transferred outside the incubating room.

Callus Extraction Procedure
Callus extraction was done using ethanol as solvent.Twenty-five hundredths (0.25)

Anthocyanin Analysis
In anthocyanin analysis, 4 ml of pH 1.0 KCl buffer (125 ml of 0.2 N KCl + 385 of 0.2 N HCl) and pH 4.5 Sodium Acetate Buffer (400 ml of 1 N sodium acetate and 240 ml of 1 N HCl and 360 ml distilled water were transferred into two individual test tubes and 2 ml of anthocyanin extract was added and suspended in the buffers.The mixture was homogenized using vortex mixer and equilibrated for 30 minutes.The absorbance in each buffer was taken at 520 and 700 nm using a spectrophotometer.The final absor-bance was then calculated using the formula:

Number of Days to Callus Initiation
Table 1 shows the number of days to callus initiation of Sesbania grandiflora L. (Red Katuray) explants as influenced by varying concentration of 2,4-D and BA.Results showed that 2,4-D at 2.5 ppm initiated the earliest callus formation with a mean of 9.33 days in the absence of BA.The duration was significantly shorter than the rest of the treatments either as independent or in combinations.It was further observed that the number of days to callus initiation was prolonged with increasing concentration of 2,4-D from 2.5 ppm either with or without BA.The longest period to callus initiation was noted with 10.0 ppm 2,4-D.
Results indicate two important informations.First, 2,4-D is more essential than BA in promoting the initiation of callus in Red Agati cultured in MS medium.This was exhibited by the significantly shortest number of days to callus initiation when 2.5 ppm 2,4-D was applied without BA.The reverse occurred when only BA was applied either at 2.5 or 5.0 ppm.Callus initiation was delayed by almost 20 days, the longest period.
Second, increasing concentration of 2,4-D from 2.5 ppm to 10 ppm at same BA   Callus formation was affected by the presence of both an auxin and cytokinin in the medium.Optimal growth depends on the ratio of cytokinin/auxin as well as the total amount of plant growth regulators in the medium (King, 2004).Means not sharing letter in common within the cells (a-e), within a column mean (A-D) and within a mean (X, Y) at the 5% probability level differ significantly by Duncan's Multiple Range Test.Note: Scale: (no callus formation; 2.00 (slight: 1% -50%); 3.00 (moderate: 51% -75%); 4.00 (profuse: 76% -100%).

Degree of Callus Formation
The above findings corroborate with the report of Sheeba et al. ( 2003) that 2,4-D can induce callus formation up to a certain level (2.0 -3.0 mg/l).This was also the report of Ling (2008) using full strength MS media supplemented with either 1 mg/l to 5 mg/l of picloram or 1 mg/l to 3 mg/l of 2,4-D.He found that the above supplement was the most efficient media formation for the establishment of cell suspension culture.Results also consistently showed that while 2,4-D is essential in callus formation at lower concentration of 2.5 ppm, the higher concentration of 5.0 ppm and 10.00 ppm seems to indicate inhibitory effect.They exhibited significantly inferior data from days to callus initiation to percentage of callus formation.On the other hand, higher concentration of 2,4-D inhibit the growth of the apical hook region of etiolated Pisumsativum seedlings 60% or by stopping almost cell divisions.Cells are prevented from entering prophase.Higher concentration also retarded the cell division in intact root tips and completely stopped the process in lateral buds [3].

Callus Growth
Growth of callus in terms of weight at various stages also resembles the sigmoid growth curve e.g. an initial slow growth followed by rapid growth and then a decline or leveling off.During the 3rd week, the weight of callus disregarding that of the control/(0 ppm) ranged from 0.08 to 0.14 g.A marked increase occurred on the 6th week.The weight during this period ranged from 0.81 to 1.25 g or an increase of more or less 80% to more than 100%.Thereafter, on the 9th week, there was a decrease in weight compared to the 6th week weights.The weight of the callus during the said period ranged from 0.97 to 1.51 or an increase of approximately eight to nine % over the weight during the 6th week.Apparently, this stage is the prelude to cell differentiation.
The above results (Figure 2) were clearly reflected in the combined effect of 2,4-D and BA.With 2,4-D alone (0 ppm BA) at 2.5 ppm, the highest weight of callus was obtained which was significantly higher over all other treatment combinations.Other treatment combinations have more or less similar effect at same concentration of both.
Results of the study are similar to the findings of Taha [4] from catharanthus internode explants wherein there was an increase of growth of around 125% during the second sub-culture from 0.25 -1.45 g.There seems to be a positive relationship between callus formation and anthocyanin content.It was observed that treatments which promoted higher callus formation produced higher anthocyanin.It is worth mentioning that among the interactions between 2,4-D and BA, the concentration of 2.5 ppm of both plant growth regulators produced the highest percentage of callus formation.The same treatment combinations produced the highest anthocyanin at 448.66 mg/g.As callus formation declined, so with the anthocyanin content.Mori [5] [6] mentioned that without the 2,4-D and BA in the strawberry suspension cultures, low anthocyanin could be produced.When the two plant growth regulators were added in the medium, substantial anthocyanin production occurred.

Anthocyanin Content
The effects of 2,4-D and BA on anthocyanin production differed greatly, as influenced by concentration.Taha [4] reported that the best result of callus and anthoyanin production was obtained using leaf explant of Fragariaanannasa which were cultured

Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation
The As a consequence, highest percentage callus formation was noted in the culture medium supplemented with 2.5 ppm 2,4-D with 0 ppm BA.Applying BA alone did not change the percentage callus formation.Moreover, result showed that 2,4-D at higher level of 7.5 ppm and 10.00 ppm had a depressing effect on callus formation.The weight of callus increased from the 3rd week to the 6th week and then declined on the 9th week.
There is a positive relationship between callus formation and anthocyanin production.Results showed that treatments that promoted significantly greater callus formation e.g.2.5 ppm 2,4-D alone or in combination with 2.5 ppm BA also produced the highest anthocyanin content.

Figure 1 .
Figure 1.Schematic diagram showing the step-by-step procedure for surface Sterilization of the petal explant of Red Katuray.
as influenced by 2,4-D and BA.The degree of callus formation was enhanced in 2.5 ppm 2,4-D without BA supplemented in the culture medium.Results showed that highest degree of callus formation as affected by the different concentrations of 2,4-D and BA was obtained by the treatment combination of 2.5 ppm 2,4-D and 0 ppm BA with an average of 3.60 and the lowest was incurred by a treatment combination of 0 ppm 2,4-D with 2.5 to 5.0 ppm BA.

Figure 2 .
Figure 2. Presents the results of callus weight of Sesbania grandiflora L. as influenced by 2,4-D and BA on the 3rd to 9th week after inoculation.
further showed that in the absence of both 2,4-D and BA in the culture medium production of anthocyanin can be considered neglible at 5.99 mg/kg.Anthocyanins are secondary metabolites found in higher plants that contribute to the colors of flowers and fruits.They are glucosides of anthocyanidins, water soluble vacuolar pigments that may appear red, purple or blue according to ph.They belong to a class of molecules called flavonoids synthesized via phenylpropanoid pathway.They occur in all tissues of higher plants, including leaves, stems, roots, and flowers (Hershey, 2001).Regarding the optimum concentration in this study, the highest production of anthocyanin was noted with the addition of 2.5 to 5.0 ppm of both 2,4-D and BA in the culture medium.The lowest production was in culture medium supplied only with BA without 2,4-D.Anthocyanin content was only limited below the 200 mg/kg level.However, both 2,4-D and BA can only be beneficial at a certain level(Sheeba et al., 2003).
on MS medium containing 1 mg/L 2,4-D and 1 mg/L BA.Kim (2002) revealed that MS basal medium supplemented with 0. 5 mg/L BA with 0.1 -1.0 mg/L 2,4-D using Sheri-dan grape promoted anthoycanin production.The differences in the results of the different species might be due to the variation of plants (Kim, 2002) it might be due to the structural genes encoding the enzymes of the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway (Holon et al., 1995; Solfanelli et al., 2006; Teng et al., 2005).It was further revealed by (Quarocchio et al., 1993) and their expression is regulated by several regulator genes.
general objective of the study was to determine the anthocyanin content of callus cultures of Sesbania grandiflora L. (Red Katuray) in MS medium using petal explants as influenced by 2,4-D and BA.The plant growth regulators were 2,4-D (auxin-containing synthetic hormone and Benzlyl adenine (BA) which contains cytokinin, another known growth promoter.Concentrations of 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 ppm of 2-4,D and 0, 2.5 and 5.0 ppm of BA added in the Murashige and Skoog (MS) [2] culture medium were examined.Results show that application of 2,4-D was more beneficial than BA in terms of number of days to callus initiation.Applying 2,4-D especially at 2.5 ppm even without BA significantly shortened callus initiation.Increasing the concentration of 2,4-D at any BA concentration prolonged the number of days to callus initiation.The reverse occurred when BA at 2.5 and 5.0 ppm was applied.Duration of callus initiation was prolonged.The early callus initiation in 2.5 ppm 2,4-D and BA promoted higher degree of callus formation.Addition of 2.5 ppm 2,4-D alone or in combination with the same concentration of BA triggered moderate to profuse production of callus.

Table 1 .
Number of days to callus initiation of Sesbania grandiflora L. (Red Katuray) as influ-significantly prolonged callus initiation.Alejar and Sese (1999) reported that the physiological effect of auxin (the active ingredient of 2,4-D) and cytokinin (the active ingredient of BA) was the promotion of cell division.Callus is a consequence of cell division.As early as 1979, Bidwell reported that cell division is very much under the control of hormones.He said that in the absence of kinetin, auxin causes cell enlargement in cultured tissue.However, excess auxin suppresses onset of metaphase.Plant growth regulators like 2,4-D and BA which contain auxin and cytokinins, respectively, are essential to effect differentiation, growth and development of an organ or organism.This condition was exhibited by the result of the study when no callus was formed without the two growth regulators.These results corroborated the findings of Suriender et al. (2006) that no callus was formed from the petiole, leaf and petal explants of gerbera family without 2,4-D and BA.When 2,4-D and BA were supplemented to MS basal medium, callus initiation occurred.This also corroborated with the findings of Bosila et al.
concentration (1993) that addition of BA at 0.5 mg/liter and 2,4-D at 5.0 mg/l induced callus formation on leaves cultured in aseptic MS basal solid medium.However, 2,4-D can only be beneficial at a certain level (Sheeba et al., 2003).

Table 2
presents the degree of callus formation of Sesbania grandiflora L. (Red katuray)

Table 2 .
Degree of callus formation of Sesbania grandiflora L. (Red Katuray) as influenced by

Table 3
The high percentage of callus formation in the MS culture medium applied with 2,4-D especially at 2.5 ppm seems to be an off shoot of the high degree of callusing.The said treatment had a 3.60 degree of callusing with a description of moderate to profuse which could have been enhanced by the early and rapid initiation of cells as presented earlier.Lang (2008)reported that the highest mean percentage of callus formation in leaf explants of gerbera cultivars was obtained by the combined application of 2 ppm 2,4-D and 1 ppm BA.

Table 3 .
Percentage callus formation of Sesbania grandiflora L. (Red Katuray) as influenced by

Table 4
presents the anthocyanin content of Sesbania grandiflora L. (Red katuray) as influenced by 2,4-D and BA.Results of the study revealed that highest anthocyanin content was obtained from the treatment combination 2.5 to 5.00 ppm 2,4-D with 2.5 ppm BA with average means of 448.66 mg/kg and 426.73 mg/kg, respectively.Results

Table 4 .
Anthocyanin content of Sesbania grandiflora L. (Red katuray) as influenced by 2,4-D and BA on 21 days after the 3rd sub-culture in terms of mg/kg.