Rapid clonal multiplication of Lavandula viridis L'Her through in vitro axillary shoot proliferation

In vitro clonal propagation of native Mediterranean Lavandula viridis was o btained from a mature field-grown plant. Single node explants were successf ully established on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 0.44 muM o f 6-benzyladenine. The highest multiplication rate (11.69 shoots/node) was obtained with 0.67 muM 6-benzyladenine in Murashige and Skoog medium with m acronutrients at half-strength. Shoots were easily rooted on Gresshoff and Doy medium. Increasing sucrose concentration from 58.4 to 87.6 mM resulted in a significant increase in rooting frequency. Eighty per cent of plantlet s were successfully acclimatised to ex vitro conditions, exhibiting a norma l development.