Possibility of Tissue Culture in Pseudohandelia umbellifera (Boiss.) Tzvel

Pseudohandelia Tzvel. belongs to the Asteraceae family with only one species. It is endemic to Khorasan Province in Iran. Having partially big and beautiful inflorescences make it a proper choice in urban green space especially in case of mass culture. In this research, to investigate possibility of micro propagation of this plant two separate experiments were designed. To obtain non contaminated explants, seeds were cultured in MS media in February 2009. After about two months a few healthy plants as stock plants for use in later stages produced through subculture. In the first stage, to evaluate amount of callus production, a factorial experiment based on a randomized complete design with two factors conducted. The first factor was 12 different hormone levels (including BAP, IAA, KN and 2,4-D with different concentrations) and second factor was explants type (including leaf, apical and lateral buds as a explants) making 36 treatments in total. In the second stage to induce stem on produced callus a randomized complete design with 34 treatments (including mentioned hormonal treatments, base MS media and different explants) was used. At the end the callus with stems were transplanted to a MS media containing IBA for root production. The results of the first experiment showed callusogenensis response to above hormonal treatments was seen in this plant with the exception of 2,4-D. Significant difference among the means of hormonal treatments for fresh weight of induced callus was observed. The result of the second experiment showed limited treatment could produce stem and most of treatments just produce callus. Also those samples that produced stem, a few could produce root in MS media.