The effect of different plant hormones (PGRs) on multiple shoots of Hypericum retusum Aucher

Use of Hypericum species have increased in the past few years due to the antidepressant and antiviral activities found in extracts of those plants. As a result of its potential as a pharmaceutical, a new system was developed for in vitro culture of this species. The goal of this investigation was to produce multiple shoot via in vitro techniques for Hypericum retusum Aucher. In vitro germination of the seeds was standardized on Murashige and Skoog (MS) hormone-free medium. Cultures were initiated from shoots inoculated onto MS medium supplemented individually with nine different concentrations of 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) and Kinetin (Kn). The highest number of shoots was obtained on medium supplemented with 0.5 mg l(-1) BAP (64.25 shoot/explant). Out of all the investigated concentrations of Kn, the best result was obtained on medium supplemented with 1.5 mg l(-1) Kn (27.87 shoot/explant). In addition, shoots were cultured separately on the media containing BAP (0.5 mgl(-1)) and Kn (1.5 mgl(-1)) combined with three different auxins (0.25 mgl(-1) IAA, IBA, NAA). In view of number and length of shoot the best result was obtained on the medium supplemented with 0.5 mg l(-1) BAP + 0.25 mg l(-1) IBA (54.12 shoot/explant, 3.36 length of shoot). In the presented study, the use of the BAP alone was the most efficient for shoot propagation. Rooted plantlets were acclimatized and successfully transferred to soil.