Study of micropropagation of Salvia leriifolia Benth using shoot tip

Salvia leriifolia (Lamiaceae) is endemic of Khorasan and Semnan provinces and is an endangered plant. In this research, for the first time, micropropagation of this plant was studied through shoot tip proliferation. Plantlets were obtained via embryo culture in 1/2 MS culture medium supplemented with 1 mg/L BAP and 1 mg/L NAA. For micropropagation, shoot tips of the plantlet were cultured on MS medium supplemented with different concentration of BAP and KIN alone or in combination with IBA. For rooting, MS medium containing different concentration of IBA, NAA and 2,4-D was used. Statistical analysis was performed according to the JMP and MSTAT-C software. The results showed that combination of BAP and IBA was appropriate for shoot proliferation and MS medium containing 2 mg/L BAP and 0.5 mg/L IBA was optimum for proliferation. Also, auxin was necessary for root formation and the best treatment for rooting was MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/L IBA. It could be concluded that, this treatment might be recommended for micropropagation of Salvia leriifolia via shoot tip culture.