Effect of Growth Regulators on In Vitro Callus Formation of Rosemary Plant (Rosmarinus officinalis L.)

Abstract

The study included the use of tissue culture technique in rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) plant propagation starting from leaf explants and the production of callus. The first experiment consisted in the leaf explants sterilization using ten randomized replications of ethanol (C 2 H 5 OH), mercuric chloride (HgCl 2) and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) respectively, on six concentrations and five treatment periods, each. The results showed that the use of sodium hypochlorite in a concentration of 0.75% for a period of 15 minutes was the most effective by giving sterile explants after two weeks of culture. After the explants sterilization, the effect of six concentrations of benzyl adenine (BA) and six concentrations of naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and the overlap between them on the callus formation were studied. Highest callus size (mm 3), callus fresh and dry weight (g) occurred at 0.2 mg/l BA and 1.5 mg/l of NAA.