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Efficient in vitro regeneration of fireweed, a medicinal plant

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Abstract

Epilobium angustifolium L. (fireweed) is a medicinal plant that has been used to treat diarrhea, mucous colitis, irritable-bowel syndrome, skin problems, prostate problems, menstrual disorders, asthma, whooping cough, and hiccups. A highly efficient and rapid regeneration system via multiple shoot formation was developed for fireweed. Explants (leaf, petiole, root, and stem segments) excised from sterile seedlings were cultured on medium supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of various plant growth regulators. Explant browning, a major problem for regeneration, was overcome by adding 100 mg/l ascorbic acid to all prepared media containing growth regulator combinations. Root explants formed more shoots than other explants. Best shoot proliferation was obtained from root explants cultured on media with 0.1 mg/l BA and 0.5 mg/l IAA. Regenerated shoots were transferred to rooting media containing different concentrations of IAA, IBA, NAA or 2,4-D. Most shoots developed roots on medium with 0.5 mg/l IAA. Rooted explants were transferred to vermiculate in Magenta containers for acclimatization and after 3 weeks they were planted in to plastic pots containing potting soil and maintained in the plant growth room.

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Abbreviations

2,4-D:

2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid

BA:

Benzyladenine

IAA:

Indole-3-acetic acid

IBA:

Indole-3-butyric acid

KIN:

Kinetin

MSMO:

Murashige and Skoog’s minimal organics

NAA:

Naphthalene acetic acid

TDZ:

Thidiazuron

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) for financial support [TBAG-2278(103T024) and TBAG-HD/27(105T040)]. We are grateful to Dr. Hakan Turker for his technical support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Abant Izzet Baysal University, 14280, Bolu, Turkey

    Arzu Ucar Turker, Esra Cansever Mutlu & Arzu Birinci Yıldırım

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  1. Arzu Ucar Turker
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  2. Esra Cansever Mutlu
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  3. Arzu Birinci Yıldırım
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Correspondence to Arzu Ucar Turker.

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Communicated by E. Lojkowska.

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Turker, A.U., Mutlu, E.C. & Yıldırım, A.B. Efficient in vitro regeneration of fireweed, a medicinal plant. Acta Physiol Plant 30, 421–426 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-008-0136-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-008-0136-8

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