Micropropagation of Hypericum erectum Thunberg by using Thidiazuron
The effect of plant growth regulators was investigated on in vitro shoot proliferation from axillary bud explants of Hypericum erectum. To determine the optimal cytokinin for proliferation of axillay buds, we carried out screening four cytokinins (BA, kinetin, 2iP, TDZ). When nodal segments were cultured on MS medium supplemented with 4.5 μM TDZ (thidiazuron), a number of shoots were induced. Our results indicated that the addition of TDZ to culture medium resulted in the induction of significantly more axillary buds than in the addition of other cytokinins. The optimal concentration of TDZ for proliferation of axillary buds was 10 μM. 92% of shoots spontaneously rooted without any plant growth regulator (PGR) and formed whole plantlets within one month. More than 95% of these regenerants survived and they did not show any detectable variation in morphology or growth characteristics compared to their donor plants.