Study of androgenesis of two valuable medicinal plants Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad and S. rechingeri Jamzad

In this study, anther and microspore cultures of two medicinal plants, Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad and S. rechingeri Jamzad, were studied. As the first step, uninuclear developmental stages of microspores were determined in relation to flower size, using acetocarmen staining. In anther culture, the effects of different temperatures, hormonal treatments and carbohydrate sources (maltose, sucrose) on androgenesis were studied in N6 induction medium. The ploidy level of calluses was determined using flow cytometry. Isolated microspores were also subjected to three induction media (NLN-13, FHG, A2-60), different temperatures and hormonal pretreatments. The highest percentage of callus induction was obtained in hormonal treatment of 0.5 mg/l of BA, 2,4-D, and Kin with temperature treatment of 30 ºC for 3 days. Based on flow cytometry results, ploidy level of almost all calli was similar to that of donor plants and only some calli of S. rechingeri in the media containing 0.5 mg/l of BA, 2,4-D, and Kin were haploid. In the regeneration medium (MS), only roots but no shoots were observed. In microspore culture of both species, the highest numbers of multi-cellular structures were observed in NLN-13 and FHG induction medium with temperature treatment of 30 ºC for 8 days. Heart-shaped embryo like structures were only observed in NLN-13 induction medium. The finding of this research will be a good base for haploid plant regeneration of S. khuzistanica and S. rechingeri.