Improved micro propagation of Cichorium intybus L. from leaf explant

Abstract EN

Cichorium intybus is edible, medicinal and forage plant.

The pharmaceutical raw materials were obtained from wild chicory (var.

Maurane).

Currently, farmers are increasingly assuming plantations of wild chicory, and breeders are attempting to produce cultivars for medicinal purposes.

In the modern breeding of chicory important feature is the ability to propagate in vitro culture.

The aim of our study was to assess capacity of natural population of wild chicory for plant regeneration from leaf explants.

In the first was examined the effect of various concentrations of BA and TDZ on the regeneration of shoots from leaf explants (٠.٥ cm٢).

After that, ٢٥ plants were propagated on the medium which was found as optimal.

Then, their callus growth and shoots regeneration capacities were compared.

The majority of the shoots were regenerated from callus but direct organogenesis was also observed (٨%).

Shoot regeneration was found to be the most efficient on MS medium containing 5MμBA and 3MμTDZ –٩٧% of the explants produced shoots, while the average number of shoots was ١٥.٥.

The wild chicory shoots rooted easily.