In vitro propagation of bastard balm (Melittis melissophyllum L.)

Abstract

Summary An efficient method for in vitro propagation of bastard balm by enhanced axillary shoot branching has been developed. The material to establish in vitro culture was shoot tips collected from three-year-old plants in May. The shoots obtained from initial explants were placed on MS/B5 medium containing 0.1, 0.5 or 1.0 mg/l BA with 0.01 mg/l NAA or without the auxin. The highest number of shoots per explant was obtained on the medium with 1.0 mg/l BA (3.9 shoots per explant). For the rooting of shoots ½ MS/B5 with IBA (0.25, 0.50 and 1.0 mg/l) medium was used. The medium without plant growth regulators served as a control. The best root regeneration was observed on the medium without IBA (87.1% of cuttings rooted). IBA used in the medium for shoot rooting affected the morphological traits of obtained microcuttings but not affected their weight. Irrespective of auxin concentration in this medium, obtained microcuttings acclimated in ex vitro conditions very well.

Developmental and chemical characteristics of Melittis melissophyllum L. in limited access of sunlight

“…The object of the study were seedlings of bastard balm obtained by in vitro techniques. The origin of maternal plants and the production of seedlings was described earlier by Bączek et al [14]. The plants were planted out in May, 2017.…”

“…The fruit is a fourfold schizocarp [1]. The raw material collected from this species is a herb (upper, not wooden parts of shoots, with leaves and flowers), rich in coumarins (with coumarin as a dominant compound), flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin and kaempferol), triterpenes, phenolic acids (rosmarinic, caffeic and chlorogenic acids), sterols, and iridoids (harpagide, ajugol, melitoside, monomelittoside) [2][3][4]. Its leaves contain about 0.09% of essential oil with more than 100 compounds identified so far.…”