IN-VITRO MICROPROPAGATION AND FLOWERING IN ARTEMISIA-ANNUA

A protocol for quick regeneration of a large number of plantlets of Ar temisia annus (source of a potent antimalarial drug) is being reported . Multiple shoots were obtained in large numbers from juvenile as well as vegetative parts of mature plant on Murashige and Skoog's medium ( MS) having 3% sucrose and 800 CIM myoinositol and supplemented with NA A (0.5 mu M) + BAP (13.0 mu M) + GA(3) (0.3 mu M) + AsP (300.0 mu M) Glu (700.0 mu M) + Arg (300.0 mu M) + Cys - HCl (30.0 mu M). Reversal of reproductive to vegetative phase and back to reproductive phase co uld be achieved in the cultured flower buds. The shoots obtained on th e above medium could be induced to flower. In addition, new shoots tha t differentiated from vegetative parts of juvenile and mature explants also produced flowers when cultured on MS with GA(3) (0.3 mu M). Sinc e artemisinin estimation is correlative to flowering, our results woul d facilitate better understanding of biosynthesis of this drug in vitr o.