MICROPROPAGATION OF MELISSA-OFFICINALIS L THROUGH PROLIFERATION OF AXILLARY SHOOTS

Multiple shoots were differentiated in cotyledonary nodes of 10 d old seedlings of Melissa officinalis, cultured on MS medium supplemented w ith BAP (0-4 mg/l). The production of shoots was further induced in su bcultures of the original explant, after the first harvest of shoots ( stump), using similar conditions. The highest average number of shoots in the two inoculations was obtained with 2 mg/l of BAP: 24 axillary shoots per explant, 7 in the first inoculation and 17 in the second on e. The maximum elongation of shoots was achieved with BAP at 0.2 mg/l, and higher concentrations of the hormone induced a decrease in their size. A range of BAP concentrations between 0.2-0.5 mg/l allowed the p roduction of more shoots with a size suitable for rooting. Roots were induced in 30 d old shoots, transferred to MS medium individually supp lemented with IBA or NAA (0-4 mg/l). Micropropagated plants were succe ssfully transferred to soil.