In vitro propagation of Gypsophila pilulifera, an endangered endemic ornamental plant species

Abstract

Gypsophila pilulifera Boiss. & Heldr., an endemic and endangered species is an economically important plant that has a potential used in medicine thank to the saponins it contains. It is also an ornamental plant. In this study, the production was carried out under in vitro conditions in order to protect and economically evaluate the species, which is in danger of extinction due to its distribution in a very narrow area open to anthropogenic effects. For this purpose, seed and shoot tip explants of G. pilulifera were cultured in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing different concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Explants were obtained from two different locations of the natural habitats of G. pilulifera and more plants were obtained in the tissue culture from both explant types taken from the 1st location. Propagation from seed gave better results, and 96.67% of the seeds cultured in hormone-free MS medium were germinated and rooted. The shoot tip showed lower regeneration in vitro than the seed explant. Especially the rooting percentage is quite low and the highest rooting and shoot formation was obtained in MS medium containing 2 mg/L BAP + 2 mg/L IAA. In this medium, 10.50 ±0.17 shoots were obtained per plant, and rooting (1.67 ±0.09 per plant) was also achieved only in this medium. Seedlings obtained in tissue culture continue to develop successfully in field conditions, and this method has been determined as a suitable method for ex-situ conservation and economically rapid production of the species.