Efficient in vitro micropropagation and regeneration of Artemisia vulgaris L.
This paper describes efficient propagation of Artemisia vulgaris using shoot tip explants isolated from 35 days old in vitro grown seedlings. Optimum proliferation was obtained on Murashige and Skoogs salts and B5 vitamins supplemented with 3% sucrose, 4.44 μM BA, and 0.7% agar. Shoot proliferation was maximal (99.8%) with 14-23 shoots per explant after 6 weeks of culture. Shoots with a minimum length of 1.5 cm were transferred to shoot elongation medium supplemented with 0.44 μM BA and 1.44 μM GA3. The successfully elongated shoots with a height of 7.2-12.1 cm were transferred to rooting medium augmented with 8.56 μM IAA. Rooted plantlets were transferred to plastic cups containing autoclaved garden soil, farmyard soil and sand (2:1:1) for hardening. Plantlets were initially maintained under culture room conditions (5 weeks), followed by normal laboratory conditions (4 weeks) and finally transferred to a Botanical Evaluation Garden and maintained there.