In Vitro Shoot Proliferation via Immature Embryos of Iris kirkwoodiae Chaudhary

ABSTRACT: In vitro techniques can be successfully used for protection of endemic ornamental plants and the geophytes that have wide natural distribution in Turkey. Iris kirkwoodiae Chaudhary belonging to Iridaceae family has a geophyte spectacular flowers, and is widely distributed in some mountainous regions in Turkey. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibilities of effective vegetative propagation of Iris kirkwoodiae Chaudhary which is a geophyte of Turkey with tissue culture techniques. Therefore, immature embryos of Iris kirkwoodii Chaudhary plant were used as explant source and used for in vitro propagation. The highest survival rate of immature embryos was 58% on MS medium containing 0.5 mg l-1 NAA and number of shoots per explant was the best on MS medium containing 2.0 mgl-1 BAP + 2.0 mgl-1 NAA with 23.3. Developed plantlets from immature embryos were acclimatized with 20% survival rate 4 weeks after transfer to pots.