In Vitro Propagation and Histochemical Analysis of Launaea sarmentosa (Willd.) Kuntze

Abstract

Launaea sarmentosa (Willd.) Kuntze., an edible perennial herb, is critically considered an endangered species due to its habitat destruction. In vitro L. sarmentosa propagation was therefore conducted to preserve this plant. Two types of explants including leaf and stolon were applied to induce the multiple shoots by culturing on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with BA (0, 1, and 2 mg/L) and 2,4-D (0, 1, 2, and 4 mg/L). The optimal shoot induction medium for both explants was MS medium containing 2 mg/l BA (presented 100 % shoot induction). Roots were induced by various types and concentrations of auxins [1-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA)]. The highest percentage of rooting (70.00 ± 11.05 %) was obtained from stolon-derived shoots on MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/l IAA. One-hundred percent survivability was presented after transforming plantlets into a mixture of soil, sand, and peat moss (1:1:1). Starch, protein, and lipid were accumulated in leaves detected by histochemical technique. The obtained information will be a useful tool for mass propagation of L. sarmentosa and to obtain basic knowledge for plant accumulating substances. HIGHLIGHTS This paper highlights 2 types of sarmentosa explant including leaves and stolons have great potential to produce multiple shoots after inoculation in MS medium adding BA. All regenerated plants get success for acclimatization and transplantation to the greenhouse. In vitro plantlets of L. sarmentosa leaves accumulated fat, protein and carbohydrate which might be related with precursor of medicinal properties GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT