Micropropagation of Bupleurum fruticosum:: The effect of triacontanol

A micropropagation protocol of Bupleurum fruticosum L. was developed, in order to obtain a great number of plants for the production of secondary metabolites. The combination of 1.0 mg l(-1) indole-3-acetic acid and 1.5 mg l(-1) 6-benzyladenine added to Murashige-Skoog medium resulted in the best multiplication. Root formation gave the same results in hormone-free medium and in the medium to which various concentrations of 1-naphthaleneacetic acid had been added. In both the multiplication and the rooting phase, 2, 5, 10 and 20 mug l(-1) triacontanol were applied. After 4 weeks of culture, the number of shoots and nodes and the fresh weight were measured in the multiplication phase. Root number, shoot length, node number and fresh weight were determined in the root induction phase, while chlorophyll content was measured in both phases. In the multiplication phase 2 mug l(-1) triacontanol was found to be the optimal concentration, the same as was the case in the rooting phase, except for the production of epigeous structures, for which the optimal concentration was 10 mug l(-1).