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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Environmental and Biochemical Factors Controlling the in Vitro Emergence of Somatic Embryos in European Spindle Tree (Euonymus europaeus L)

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description

The European spindle tree (Euonymus europaeus L. Celastraceae) is a shrubby tree widely distributed in temperate regions of western European countries from the northern part of France to St. Petersburg and the western part of Russia. The Celastraceae comprises 55 genera, including at least 850 known species of trees and shrubs which are found in tropical and temperate regions. Various secondary metabolites are elaborated in the family including steroids, triterpenoids, sesquiterpene, peptide ore alkaloids. The spindle tree is commonly found in quickset hedges and small broad-leaved forests when the soil is deep, moist, clayey and chalky. The leaves are relatively small (3–4 cm long) simple and are finely dentate. The green bark of young branches is characterised by three to four parallel and longitudinal dark fine straight lines. It bears pink berries (capsules) each containing four orange-colored seeds (5–6 mm diameter). The fruits produce a toxic alkaloid (evonymin) and are poisonous to humans. In Burgundy, this shrubby tree occurs as a wild plant and is the only species of this genera. Ecotypes have never been reported. The spindle tree is naturally propagated by seeds.