157
Low-Power Laser Biotechnology Pretreatment
• seedling growth (Mosneaga et al., 2018);
• stimulation of cell proliferation through photostimulatory effects in mitochondria (Hu
et al., 2007);
• protection against UV-B radiation damage (Abu-Elsaoud and Shahda, 2017; Al-Zhen et al.,
2012; Chen and Han, 2014, 2015; Jia and Duan, 2013; Yang et al., 2012);
• stimulated leaf area and parameters of photosynthetic activity (Rybinski and Garczynski,
2004);
• increased nuclease activity of the leaves and roots (Zhang and Han, 2009);
• increased ATP level in cells cultivated under in vitro conditions (Karu et al., 1995); and
• improvements in the chemical composition and structure of lipids in tissue culture (Salyaev
et al., 2007).
Laser treatment has been used to increase tolerance to various types of stress, such as the following:
• drought stress (Wu et al., 2007; Metwally et al., 2014; Qiu et al., 2008a,b; Qiu et al., 2017);
• increased drought stress resistance for repairing damage to plants exposed to osmotic
stress (Qiu et al., 2008c, 2010) and membrane lipid peroxidation (Wu et al., 2007);
• low temperatures (Chen et al., 2010);
• salinity stress (Ashrafjou et al., 2010; Duan et al., 2010; Gao et al., 2014; Mohammadi
et al., 2012; Rasouli et al., 2012; Zare et al., 2014); and
• changes in oxidative stress in response to antioxidant defence (Abu-Elsaoud, 2013;
Abu-Elsaoud and Tuleukhanov, 2013; Chen, 2009; Qiu et al., 2013).
In the international scientifc literature, most laser treatment research has been conducted with
botanical seeds, and less with plant cuttings (Bąbelewski and Szajsner, 2014; Jakubiak and Gdowska,
2013; Rimal et al., 2014; Szajsner and Bąbelewski, 2014).
Plant growth regulators, as well as exogenous plant hormones (bioregulators), are known to be
able to increase their tolerance to excess water in the environment. This has been encouraged with
the use of paclobutrazol (Lin et al., 2006), putrescine (Yui et al., 2009a), spermine (Yiu et al.,
2009b) and ethylene (Wang et al., 2016). Specifc attention is drawn to the use of the bioregulator
5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) in stress pretreatments, as it regulates several key physiological processes; for example, it signifcantly improves the waterlogging tolerance of fg (Ficus carica) and
promotes root breathing, leaf photosynthesis and antioxidant capacity (An et al., 2016).
Mulberry (Morus alba) and sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) are two important species of plants
grown commercially in Cuba; the former is increasingly used as a fodder crop and the latter is the
main commercial crop for sugar production, but has multiple other uses, such as animal feed and
derivatives. Commercially, both crops are propagated by stakes to ensure varietal homogeneity, but
varietal characteristics, management factors and environmental conditions may result in low shooting rates and poor early-stage growth that affects crop yields.
The objective of this research was to determine the effect of low-power laser biotechnology
pretreatment on the shooting and initial growth of mulberry and sugarcane under normal irrigation
conditions and under food stress.
EFFECTS OF LOW-POWER LASER BIOTECHNOLOGY PRETREATMENT ON
THE SHOOTING AND INITIAL GROWTH OF MULBERRY AND SUGARCANE
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Ninety 1-bud sets of the Acorazonada variety were cut from the mulberry seed bank (Morus alba)
of the Plant Biotechnology Study Center, University of Granma, Cuba, along with 90 one-bud sets
from 10-month-old sugarcane (variety C90-469) and their stalks from the sugarcane seed bank of
Low-Power Laser Biotechnology Pretreatment
• seedling growth (Mosneaga et al., 2018);
• stimulation of cell proliferation through photostimulatory effects in mitochondria (Hu
et al., 2007);
• protection against UV-B radiation damage (Abu-Elsaoud and Shahda, 2017; Al-Zhen et al.,
2012; Chen and Han, 2014, 2015; Jia and Duan, 2013; Yang et al., 2012);
• stimulated leaf area and parameters of photosynthetic activity (Rybinski and Garczynski,
2004);
• increased nuclease activity of the leaves and roots (Zhang and Han, 2009);
• increased ATP level in cells cultivated under in vitro conditions (Karu et al., 1995); and
• improvements in the chemical composition and structure of lipids in tissue culture (Salyaev
et al., 2007).
Laser treatment has been used to increase tolerance to various types of stress, such as the following:
• drought stress (Wu et al., 2007; Metwally et al., 2014; Qiu et al., 2008a,b; Qiu et al., 2017);
• increased drought stress resistance for repairing damage to plants exposed to osmotic
stress (Qiu et al., 2008c, 2010) and membrane lipid peroxidation (Wu et al., 2007);
• low temperatures (Chen et al., 2010);
• salinity stress (Ashrafjou et al., 2010; Duan et al., 2010; Gao et al., 2014; Mohammadi
et al., 2012; Rasouli et al., 2012; Zare et al., 2014); and
• changes in oxidative stress in response to antioxidant defence (Abu-Elsaoud, 2013;
Abu-Elsaoud and Tuleukhanov, 2013; Chen, 2009; Qiu et al., 2013).
In the international scientifc literature, most laser treatment research has been conducted with
botanical seeds, and less with plant cuttings (Bąbelewski and Szajsner, 2014; Jakubiak and Gdowska,
2013; Rimal et al., 2014; Szajsner and Bąbelewski, 2014).
Plant growth regulators, as well as exogenous plant hormones (bioregulators), are known to be
able to increase their tolerance to excess water in the environment. This has been encouraged with
the use of paclobutrazol (Lin et al., 2006), putrescine (Yui et al., 2009a), spermine (Yiu et al.,
2009b) and ethylene (Wang et al., 2016). Specifc attention is drawn to the use of the bioregulator
5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) in stress pretreatments, as it regulates several key physiological processes; for example, it signifcantly improves the waterlogging tolerance of fg (Ficus carica) and
promotes root breathing, leaf photosynthesis and antioxidant capacity (An et al., 2016).
Mulberry (Morus alba) and sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) are two important species of plants
grown commercially in Cuba; the former is increasingly used as a fodder crop and the latter is the
main commercial crop for sugar production, but has multiple other uses, such as animal feed and
derivatives. Commercially, both crops are propagated by stakes to ensure varietal homogeneity, but
varietal characteristics, management factors and environmental conditions may result in low shooting rates and poor early-stage growth that affects crop yields.
The objective of this research was to determine the effect of low-power laser biotechnology
pretreatment on the shooting and initial growth of mulberry and sugarcane under normal irrigation
conditions and under food stress.
EFFECTS OF LOW-POWER LASER BIOTECHNOLOGY PRETREATMENT ON
THE SHOOTING AND INITIAL GROWTH OF MULBERRY AND SUGARCANE
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Ninety 1-bud sets of the Acorazonada variety were cut from the mulberry seed bank (Morus alba)
of the Plant Biotechnology Study Center, University of Granma, Cuba, along with 90 one-bud sets
from 10-month-old sugarcane (variety C90-469) and their stalks from the sugarcane seed bank of