Ficus religiosa is known as a long-lived multipurpose forest tree. The tree plays an important role for religious, medicinal, and ornamental purposes. However, the propagation rate of Ficus religiosa is low in natural habitat so the plant tissue culture techniques are an applicable method for multiplication of this valuable medicinal plants. Thus, the aim of this study is to understand the effect of different auxin/cytokinin ratios on indirect shoot organogenesis of this plant. According to our results, the maximum callus induction frequency (100%) was obtained on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) plus 0.05 mg/l 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) from petiole segments. For shoot induction purpose, the yellow-brownish, friable, organogenic calli were inoculated on shoot induction medium. On MS medium supplemented with 1.5 mg/l BAP and 0.15 mg/l Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), 96.66% of the petiole-derived calli responded with an average number of 3.56 shoots per culture. The highest root formation frequency (96.66%), root number (5.5), and root length (4.83 cm) were achieved on MS medium containing 2.0 mg/l IBA plus 0.1 mg/l Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). The rooted shoots were successfully transferred to field condition and the substrate with the mixture of cocopeat and perlite (1:1) had the highest survival rate (96.66%). This is the first report of an effective in vitro organogenesis protocol for F. religiosa by indirect shoot organogenesis through axenic seedling derived petiole explants, which can be efficiently employed for conservation of this important medicinal plant species as well as the utilization of active biomolecules.

Passiflora caerulea L. is a herbaceous climber that belongs to the Passifloraceae family. One of the most important techniques used in plant biotechnology is tissue culture, which allows for the mass production of pathogenfree plants. Cotyledonary nodes have a great potential for shoot proliferation; however, to the best of our knowledge there are no reports regarding plant regeneration from cotyledonary nodes of P. caerulea. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the potential of two different types of explants (shoot tips and cotyledonary nodes) to obtain shoot multiplication of P. caerulea. Various concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) (0.5, 1, and 1.5 mg/l), 6-furfurylaminopurine (kinetin, KIN) (1 and 2 mg/l), and thidiazuron (TDZ) (0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg/l) in combination with indole butyric acid (IBA) were used in a completely randomized design, in three replications. The results showed that the highest percentage of regeneration frequency (90%) and a maximum number of shoots (8.86) in cotyledonary node explants were obtained on MS medium supplemented with 1.5 mg/l BAP along with 0.15 mg/l IBA. Furthermore, in the shoot tip explants, the percentage of regeneration rate (96.66%) and the highest number of shoots (9.86) were obtained in the above-mentioned medium. In rooting experiments, the maximum rooting percentage (90%) was obtained on MS medium containing 1 mg/l IBA. In vitro-raised plantlets were placed in pots and were stored in soil under room temperature for 20 to 30 days before planting, and it showed more than 90% survival rate. Based on our results, the protocol described in this study has a high potential to be used in the micropropagation of this valuable plant.

not availablePlant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 27(1): 85-88, 2017 (June)

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