Micropropagation of Haworthia limifolia using plant growth ‎regulators

Haworthiopsis limifolia, a cactus native to South Africa, is one of the herbaceous ornamental plants belonging to the Asphodelaceae family. This succulent perennial plant is known for its medicinal properties, including antibacterial and antifungal properties. The production and cultivation of this plant are traditionally associated with low yield and time consumption, which do not meet any needs of the market, and the producer faces problems with mass production. To solve these problems, new propagation methods, such as tissue culture, are used. The objectives of this study were to introduce a novel protocol for disinfecting Hawthorn for in vitro tissue culture and investigate the effects of different levels of growth regulators, including BAP (benzyl amino purine) and IBA (indole butyric acid), on the micropropagation of this plant. The results showed that 1.5% sodium hypochlorite solution for 10 minutes was the best treatment for the disinfection of the isolated cultures. In addition, our results indicated that the highest number of succulents (10) belonged to the treatment of 1.5 mg /L BAP. According to the mean comparison, the best treatment for rooting was 1.5 mg/L of IBA.  The 1.5 mg/l concentration of BAP led to the maximum number of succulents. Moreover, BAP had a more significant effect than IBA on cacti's rooting, shooting, and suckering.