CALLUS-CULTURES OF ARTEMISIA-ABSINTHIUM L - INITIATION, GROWTH OPTIMIZATION AND ORGANOGENESIS

Callus cultures were initiated from micropropagated Artemisia absinthi um plantlets on MS basal medium supplemented with different concentrat ions of BA, Kn, NAA, IAA and 2,4-D in combination or singly. Supplemen ting the medium with low doses of both BA in combination with NAA, and Kn in combination with NAA enhanced the growth rate of callus culture s. However, cultures grew slowly following the second subculture and t he majority turned brown and died within the next month. Initiation of root and shoot primordia occured directly from leaf explants cultured on 1.81 mu M 2,4-D, while adventitious shoot formation from callus wa s observed occasionally when BA was added to the medium in combination with IAA. Furthermore, medium containing 2.22 mu M BA and 2.69 mu M N AA stimulated both callus growth and organogenesis on some callus cult ures derived from leaves and stems of young stock material. The best r esults were obtained with leaf explants. Cytological analysis of root meristems revealed that all regenerants were diploid (2n = 18), as exp ected.