In vitro propagation of Matthiola incana (Brassicaceae) - an ornamental plant

Tissue culture techniques are applied for micropropagation and production of pathogen-free plants. Successful in vitro propagation requires an understanding of specific requirements and precise manipulation of various factors. Direct plant production from cultured explants is important to minimize somaclonal variation in regenerated plants. In this study, an efficient protocol for micropropagation of Matthiola incana using shoot tips is presented. Seeds from mother plants were germinated on MS medium without growth regulators. Shoot tips from in vitro germinated seedlings were subcultured on solid MS medium supplemented with kinetin (KIN)(0, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/L) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA)(0, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/L). Four-week-old in vitro plants, obtained from microcuttings, showed successful shooting and rooting. MS medium supplemented with 2 mg/L KIN without NAA resulted in the best shoot length (1.166 cm) and largest number of node (4.64). When the shoot tips were inoculated in the medium containing 2 mg/L NAA without KIN and medium containing the combination of 1 mg/L NAA + 2 mg/L KIN, the best result was observed for root number (1.85) and root length (5.2 cm). Moreover, fresh weight, dry weight and chlorophyll content of plants were calculated.