Micropropagation of Hypericum maculatum Cranz an important medicinal plant

The purpose of this work was to establish an effective in vitro propagation protocol for Hypericum maculatum Cranz using nodal segments explants taken from the aseptically germinated seedlings. Explant browning, a major problem for regeneration, was overcome by adding ascorbic and citric acid (each 50 mg/L) to all prepared media containing growth regulator combinations The nodal pieces inoculated individually in MS basal medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L 2iP + 0.2 mg/L BA + 0.1 mg/L K + 0.05 mg/L NAA produced multiple small shoots (30 ± 0.6) with an average height of 3.1 ± 0.2 cm. For shoot elongation and rooting, these shoots were transferred on half-strength MS basal medium containing 0.5 mg/L GA3 and two different auxins, IAA and IBA, at three concentrations (0, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/L). The most effective culture medium for root number, root length, and shoot height was the half-strength MS basal medium with 1.0 mg/L IAA. Rooted plantlets were transferred to pots containing perlite for acclimatization, for a period of three weeks, and further on soil. An average of 97 - 100% acclimatized plantlets survived after two months of transferring into the soil.