Efficient Callus Induction, Plant Regeneration and Estragole Estimation in Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus L.)

Our research studied the fast-breeding technology of Artentisia dracunculus using tissue culture in order to provide the scientific foundation for industry production. The susceptibility of callus formation and plant regeneration was studied under different conditions of basic medium, hormones and additives. The use of explants of different origins as the leaf, stem and root explants was also studied for best callus induction rate, regeneration ability and estragole concentration. The best culture medium for the induction of calli was MS + 2.4.D 1.0 mgl(-1), which started with the leaves as explants, and the best medium for stem regeneration was MS + BA 0.5 mgl(-1) + NAA 0.1 mgl(-1). A new HPLC method was developed to provide a specific procedure for the rapid and facile analysis of the major constituent of tarragon volatile oil estragole. Estragole concentration was estimated at all the experiment treatments including the induced calli under different medium conditions, as well as the regenerated plants. Estragole concentration was found to be 9.8% dry weight in the in vitro regenerated plantlets. Using this method estragole was found to be absent in different plant extracts of the field grown plants (acclimatized after in vitro regeneration).