Rapid micropropagation of Ocimum basilicum using shoot tip explants pre-cultured in thidiazuron supplemented liquid medium

Abstract

An efficient protocol has been developed for rapid micropropagation of Ocimum basilicum. Multiple shoots were induced by culturing shoot tip explants excised from mature plants on a liquid Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 5-100 μM of thidiazuron (TDZ) for different treatment duration (4, 8, 12 and 16 d). The optimal level of TDZ supplementation to the culture medium was 50 μM for 8 d induction period followed by subculturing in MS medium devoid of TDZ as it produced maximum regeneration frequency (78 %), mean number of shoots (11.6 ± 1.16) and shoot length (4.8 ± 0.43 cm) per explant. A culture period longer than 8 d with TDZ resulted in the formation of fasciated or distorted shoots. The regenerated shoots rooted best on MS medium containing 1.0 μM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). The micropropagated shoots with well developed roots were successfully established in pots containing garden soil and grown in greenhouse with 95 % survival rate. The regenerated plants were morphologically uniform and exhibited similar growth characteristics and vegetative morphology to the donor plants. © 2007 Institute of Experimental Botany, ASCR.