Introducing a tissue culture protocol for Fritillaria (Fritillaria raddeana) via seed and bulb scales

Fritillaria raddeana is one of the most fascinating flowers, belonging to Lilliaceae family, native to Iran, Turkmenistan, rarely found in Afghanistanand Pakistan. It is an important ornamental-medical bulbous plant, tolerant to arid conditions and stony slopes but facing extinction, so in vitro propagation of this plant will have a great importance for introduction and domestication of this wild and endangered plant. The present study was carried out to find an efficient system for in vitro callus induction and regeneration of F. raddeana via culturing of seeds and bulb scales. These explants were sterilized first and then cultured on media containing various concentrations of plant growth regulators. Different proportions of Auxins (6- indole-3-aceticacid (IAA), α-Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D))  and Cytokinins (Benzylaminopurine (BAP), Thidiazuron (TDZ), Kinetin (KIN)),  and different MS basal mediawere tested. More survival percentage, less contamination and higher percentage of callus formation were the advantages of seed explants and heavier callus with higher regeneration percentage during the same period of time were the positive points of bulb scales explants. The best callus formation and regeneration medium was MS medium supplemented with 2 mgl-1 TDZ + 0.5 mgl-1 IBA.