. STUDIES ON PROPAGATION OF LAVANDULA SPICA L. BY TISSUE CULTURE TECHNIQUES .

Abstract

This study was carried out at the Ornamental of Horticulture Depa1iment Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University. The experimental work was done in Tissue Cultuer Laboratory of Agriculture Development Systems Project (ADS) Minisitry of Agric-Egypt at the period from 2001 to 2004. The aim of this study was to propagate the Lavandula spica L. by tissue culture techniques. The best method of surface sterilization by using NaOCl was at (1.5 %) for 15 minutes with shoot tip, nodal segments and axillary buds but with leaves explants the best method was at (2 % NaOCL) for 15 minutes. In the indirect organogenesis way it was found that the highest callus formation percentage was with shoot tip explants which cultured onto MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/1 2,4-D- 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid. Using MS supplemented with BA -6-benzyladenin at S.Omg/1 gave the highest callus diffrentiation percentage and there was an increase in the percentage of calli differetiation when calli were recultured onto the same medium. In the direct organogenesis way, using MS salt strength medium at half-salt strength were significantly increased the shoot length, number of shoot and number of leaves on multiplication stage. The highest number of shootlet/explants was obtained when agar was supplemented to 1/2 MS medium at 8 gm/1, the highest number of leaves was obtained when agar was supplemented to 1/2 MS medium at 6 gm/L and the longest shoot was obtained when agar was supplemented to 1/2 MS medium at 6 gm/L compared with other concentrations of agar. The highest number of shoots was recorded with the addition of high concentrations of sucrose (40 gm/1) with I /2 !viS salt strength medium, the best sucrose concentration on shoot length was recorded with 50 gm/L and 1/2 MS salt strength medium and using 40 or 50 gm/L with 1/2 MS salt strength medium gave the best leaves formation. The highest multiplication rate (number of shoot/explant, shoot length and number of leaves) was obtained with 2.0 mg/1 BA-6-benzyladenine supplemented to 1/2 MS. Using MS medium at 1/2 salt strength with IBA at 1.5 mg/1 was the most effective treatmment in increasing the root number/ shootlet, root length and plantlet hight. Adding of activated charcoal to 1/2 MS medium was the best treatment to increase the root number/explant, root length and plantlet high. In adaptation stage, the highest plantlet length and the greatest leaves number were observed from shootlet produced from peat moss growing medium, where survival percentage was 95 %.