In vitro culture of common mullein (Verbascum thapsus L.)

Verbascum thapsus L. is a medicinal herb and has been used to treat inflamm atory disease, asthma, spasmodic coughs and migraine headaches. Studies wer e initiated to establish an in vitro culture protocol for V. thapsus. Expla nts (leaf discs, petioles and roots) were cultured on Murashige and Skoog m inimal organics (MSMO) medium with benzyladenine (BA) or kinetin. Best shoo t proliferation was obtained from leaf disc and petiole explants at 13.32 m uM BA. Leaf discs were cultured on MSMO medium with 13.32 VM BA in combinat ion with naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) or 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2 ,4-D). More shoot development was obtained with 13.32 muM BA and 5.37 muM N AA. Shoots were transferred to rooting media containing different levels of NAA and 2,4-D. Most of the shoots formed roots on media with 5.37 muM NAA. Plants were transferred to vermiculite and subsequently to potting media a nd maintained in the greenhouse.