In vitro adventitious shoot regeneration of the medicinal plant meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim)

Abstract

Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim (meadowsweet) is a medicinal plant that is claimed to have several biological activities, including anti-tumor, anti-carcinogenic, anti-oxidant, anti-coagulant, anti-ulcerogenic, anti-microbial, anti-arthritic, and immunomodulatory properties. This report describes, for the first time, an efficient plant regeneration system for F. ulmaria via adventitious shoot development from leaf, petiole, and root explants cultured on Murashige and Skoog’s minimal organics medium containing different concentrations of thidiazuron (TDZ), benzyladenine, and kinetin either alone or in combination with different auxins. Relatively extensive/prolific shoot regeneration was observed in all three explant types with TDZ in combination with indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Gibberellic acid (GA3), TDZ, and IAA combinations were also tested. The best shoot proliferation was observed among root explants cultured on media supplemented with 0.45 μM TDZ + 2.85 μM IAA + 1.44 μM GA3. Regenerated shoots were transferred to rooting media containing different concentrations of either IAA, indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), naphthalene acetic acid, or 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Most shoots developed roots on medium with 2.46 μM IBA. Rooted explants were transferred to vermiculite in Magenta containers for a 2-wk acclimatization period and then finally to plastic pots containing potting soil. The plantlets in soil were kept in growth chambers for 2 wk before transferring to greenhouse conditions.