Effects of auxins on induction and establishment of adventitious and hairy roots culture of the medicinal plant chicory (Cichorium intybus L.)

Roots are the site for biosynthesis or accumulation of major plant secondary metabolites. In recent decades, many researchers have focused on the biosynthesis of valuable secondary metabolites in hairy roots. This study was conducted to optimize the induction andthe culture conditions of adventitious and hairy roots of chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) using auxins IAA, IBA and NAA. This study was performed in two steps. In the first step, the leaf explant was cultured on MS solid medium for rootinduction with different concentrations of IAA and NAA (0, 0.3, 0.6 and 1 mg 1-1). The highest rootinduction (100 %) and the highest mean number of roots were obtained at concentration of 1 mg 1-1 NAA. In the second step, the adventitious and hairy rootsobtained from leaf explants were cultured in MS liquid medium with different concentrations of IAA, IBA and NAA (0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 mg 1-1). According to the results, the highest fresh and dry weight was obtained in MS liquid medium containing 0.3 mg 1-1 NAA and 1.5 mg 1-1 IBA and hairy roots were only established in treatments containing NAA hormone.