EFFICIENT in vitro PLANT REGENERATION FROM CULTURED LEAF AND PETIOLE EXPLANTS OF Isatis constricta Davis

Abstract

Isatis concstricta Davis (an endemic plant of Turkey) suffers from low propagation rates under natural conditions and is threatened due to fast unplanned urbanisation. The study compared the effects of variants of BA + NAA on shoot regeneration on leaf and petiole explants excised from one week old in vitro regenerated seedlings. MS medium containing 1 mg L^–1  BA + 1 mg L^–1  NAA induced maximum proliferation on petiole and leaf explants with 13.33 and 12.75 shoots per explant repectively. However, leaf explant induced shoots were sturdy and healthier compared to petiole explant induced shoots. These shoots were rooted on MS medium containing 0.5 mg L^–1 IBA and the plants were acclimatized in peat moss and sand (v/v). They grew to flowering under ex vitro conditions. This system of regeneration is advantageous for conventional propagation and the results will help in establishment of a powerful and meaningful micropropagation system for I. constricta.