Plant Biotechnology

Electronic Journal of Biotechnology ISSN: 0717-3458 Vol. 10 No. 4, Issue of October 15, 2007
© 2007 by Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso -- Chile Received February 27, 2006 / Accepted April 18, 2007
DOI: 10.2225/vol10-issue4-fulltext-7
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Micropropagation of Lilium ledebourii (Baker) Boiss as affected by plant growth regulator, sucrose concentration, harvesting season and cold treatments 

Pejman Azadi
Tissue Culture Department
National Research Center of Ornamental Plants
P.O. Box: 37815-137, Mahallat, Iran
Tel: 988663227393
Fax: 988663229394
E-mail: azadip22@yahoo.com

Morteza Khosh-Khui*
Department of Horticultural Science
College of Agriculture
Shiraz University
Shiraz, Iran
Tel: 987112287103
Fax: 987116289017
E-mail: mkhoshkhui@yahoo.com

*Corresponding author

Keywords: bulblet, cold treatment, conservation, harvesting season, Lilium ledebourii, tissue culture.

Abbreviations:

BA: benzyladenin
IAA: Indole-3-acetic acid
MS: Murashige and Skoog
NAA: naphthaleneacetic acid

Abstract
Full Text

A protocol for the micropropagation in different harvesting time of Lilium ledebourii (Baker) Boiss, an endangered rare species endemic to Iran has been developed. In vitro scale culture of this species, using bulbs from three harvesting seasons (spring, summer and winter), was attempted. Among the various treatments tested, the Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0.1 mg l-1 naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) + 0.1 mg l-1 benzyladenin (BA) and 6% sucrose in all harvesting seasons proved to be superior to others. The best results for fresh weight of bulblets, rooting parameters and the survival rate after transplantation to greenhouse were obtained from early winter-harvested bulbs. Summer-harvested bulbs had the highest number of bulblets per explant. The bulblets at the end of the culture period were given cold treatment at 4ºC for 2-8 weeks at a 2-weeks interval and then transplanted to a potting mixture of sand, leaf mold and peat moss (1:1:1 v/v). The best emergence rate (90%) was achieved at 8 weeks cold treatment for winter harvested bulbs.

Supported by UNESCO / MIRCEN network