Rapid regeneration of Mentha piperita L. from shoot tip and nodal explants

Abstract

A high frequency and rapid regeneration protocol was developed from shoot tip and nodal explants of Mentha piperita L. on Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium supplemented with either 6-benzyl amino purine (BAP; 1 mg/l)) or zeatin (0.25 mg/l). The highest number of shoots (49.8) was obtained on medium containing BAP. The regenerated dwarf shoots were further elongated on MS medium supplemented with gibberellic acid (GA3; 1 mg/l). In vitro shoots were then excised from shoot clumps and transferred to rooting medium containing naphthalene acetic acid (NAA; 1 mg/l). The rooted plantlets were hardened on MS basal liquid medium and subsequently in polycups containing sterile soil and vermiculite (1:1). Plantlets, thus, developed were successfully established and finally transferred to a greenhouse. The plantlets showed high survival rate (90%) in the soil.