DIRECT MICROPROPAGATION OF ENGLISH LAVENDER (Lavandula angustifolia Munstead) PLANT.

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out to study the in vitro shoot proliferation, root formation and ex vitro acclimatization of English lavender (Munstead). Nodal explant showed a good response for producing the highest survival percentage, shoots and leaves number comparing with the shoot tip one. Among the tested cytokinins, TDZ at 0.20 mg/L recorded the highest shoots number (30.55 shoots), followed by BAP at 0.80 mg/L (16.50 shoots). The weakest effects on shoots number were recorded for media supplemented with all Kin concentrations, however it tabulated the tallest shoots length. Also, MS at full strength supplemented with sucrose as a carbon source at concentration of 30.00 or 40.00 g/L, significantly recorded the highest number of shoots and leaves. But, the lowest vitrification percentage was obtained when media strength started to decrease, as 1 /4 strength medium which supplemented with sucrose or glucose at 40 g/L recorded 0.00% vitrification. Rooting which was achieved on half strength medium fortified with NAA at 1.00 mg/L significantly recorded the highest roots number of 21.25 roots, comparing with 11.86 roots only when IBA was added into the medium at 2.00 mg/L, but it was noticed that NAA concentrations decreased the roots length comparing with IBA one. Transplanting the rooted shoots into a mixture of peat moss + vermiculite + loamy soil (1:1:1 v) resulted in the highest survival percentage of 90.00% and a increase in shoots length of 12.71cm.