Micropropagation of Lippia junelliana (Mold.) Tronc.

A method for the micropropagation of Lippia junelliana (Mold.) Tronc. from shoot tips or nodal segments was developed. Proliferating microshoot cultur es were obtained by placing shoot tips or nodal segments on full strength M urashige and Skoog medium (MS) supplemented with 4.4 mu M benzyladenine (BA ) or 0.04 mu M indolebutyric acid- (IBA) plus 4.4 mu M BA. The rooting of s hoots was better on full-strength MS medium without growth regulators. Root ed plantlets were successfully acclimatized to soil. The shoot cultures sho wed a lower essential oil accumulation in comparison with parent plants. Es sential oil accumulation is closely related with growth and shows a negativ e correlation with shoot proliferation.