Micropropagation of Bunium Persicum (Boiss.) B. Fedtsch. via Indirect Somatic Embryogenesis

Abstract

Bunium persicum (Boiss.) B. Fedtsch., a member of the Apiaceae family, is one of the oldest and most economically important species. Because of seed dormancy and lack of hypocotyl growth when cotyledon emerged, In vivo cultivation of Bunium persicum has not succeeded. In order to investigate the effects of some plant growth regulators on somatic embryogenesis of Bunium persicum in tissue cultured condition, we have used indirect embryogenesis technique. Explant harvested from root, hypocotyl and cotyledon (leaf) were investigated on MS media combined with 2, 4-D, BAP, NAA (each of those with 6 concentration levels: 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 4 mg/l) and furthermore Kin (using 3 concentration levels: 0, 0.2 and 0.5 mg/l). Calli developed into different media and after 3 or 4 weeks some of them regenerated embryos. The best indirect somatic embryogenesis was obtained in a medium treated with root explants and the highest indirect embryogenesis was resulted from media treated with 2 mg/l 2, 4-D, 0.5 mg/l BAP or 1 mg/l BAP + 0.2 Kin. Also the highest percentage of callogenesis was observed on MS media containing 0.5 mg/l NAA+0.5 mg/l Kin, 4mg/l NAA or 2 mg/l 2, 4-D + 0.5 mg/l Kin. Keyword- Bunium persicum (Boiss.) B. Fedtsch.; Somatic Embryogenesis; Callus; Hypocotyls