Micropropagation optimization of two endangered and endemic of Iran species of Ferulago (Ferulago subvelutina Rech.f. and Ferulago angulata (Schlecht) Boiss)

Ferulago (Ferulago ssp.) medicinal plant belongs to Apiaceae family and is endemic of Iran. Species of this genus are extremely endangered, considering the seed dormancy, excess harvesting and environmental stresses such as drought. By considering this plant as a valuable medicinal-rangeland plant, its production and reclamation is an essential task. This investigation was done to optimize micropropagation of two endemic species of Ferulago, included F. angulate and F. subvelutina. Maximum percentage of callus induction in F. angulata specie was reached as 100%, using rootlet explant (under treatments of 0 BAP + 1 NAA, 0 BAP + 1.5 NAA and 0 BAP + 2 NAA mg/l) and also true leaf explants (under treatments of 0.5 BAP + 0.5 NAA and 1 BAP + 2 NAA mg/l), and in F. subvelutina specie using true leaf explants (under treatments of 0.5 BAP + 0.5 NAA and 1 BAP + 2 NAA mg/l) respectively as 72.33 and 71.66%. The combined application of the cytokinin and auxin phytohormones has been shown to be effective in regenerating Ferulago species; so that the maximum regeneration was reached as 53.33 and 46.66% in F. angulata respectively under treatments of 0.5 BAP + 0.2 NAA mg/l and 0.5 BAP + 0.4 NAA mg/l and so on as 53.33 and 60 percent in F. subvelutina respectively under treatments of 1 BAP + 0.2 NAA mg/l and 1 BAP + 0.4 NAA mg/l. The best rooting treatment in both species was selected as the ½ MS cultural medium included 0.5 mg/l IBA. The adaptation stage was done in a mixture of soil, peat soil and sand with a weight ratio of 1: 1: 1, in which the total of 80% of regenerated plants from tissue culture, were successfully adapted to the outside environment.