Callus induction, regeneration and proliferation of Berberis vulgaris var. asperma using In vitro technique

Genus Berberis include 660 species and only one of them, Berberis vulgaris is cultivated as a horticultural species. Berberis vulgaris is propagated via cutting and souker that is very time consuming. Using tissue culture method may product larg number of plants in a short period of time. In this research, effects of plant growth regulating hormones on micropropagation of Berberis vulgaris were studied. Axillary buds were sterillized as explants. The explants were transferred to different medium after sterilization stages including mercuric chloride, 70% ethanol and sodium hypochlorite supplemented with different concentrations of BAP, IAA, Kin and GA3 growth regulating hormones. The cultures were kept in a growth room at 25±2 ˚C in 16/8 h light and dark periods. Results showed that 3% NaOCl for 15 minutes was the best sterilization treatment. Also ANOVA results indicated that MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/l BAP was the best medium for regeneration. The most number of shoots (6) was observed in MS supplemented with 2 mg/l BAP 0.01 mg/l IBA. Therefore, BAP was the best hormone for regeneration of Berberis vulgaris.The best medium for root initiation was MS containing 0.5 mg/l IBA. The regenerated plant were succesfuly transferred to Jify pots and then to soil.