Regeneration of Echinacea purpurea: Induction of root organogenesis from hypocotyl and cotyledon explants

An in vitro propagation system was developed for Echinacea purpurea L. (pur ple coneflower), a medicinal plant commonly used in the treatment of colds, flu and related ailments. Root organogenesis from Echinacea purpurea hypoc otyl explants was effectively induced by indolebutyric acid. Indoleacetic a cid was found to be less effective than indolebutyric acid while treatments with naphthaleneacetic acid were ineffective for induction of root organog enesis. The results of this study have established a micropropagation syste m for Echinacea purpurea that will provide axenic plant material for furthe r investigations into medicinally active biochemicals and the mass producti on of high-quality Echinacea purpurea root tissues for the commercial marke t.