Micropropagation of rare endemic Satureja edmondi

Satureja edmondiis an important medicinal plant species which is one of the rare endemic plant species of Iran. Since seeds of the species are not found enough in the nature and the available seeds hardly germinate as well, micropropagation and mass reproduction is required in order to prevent the extinction of the species. Hence, the green branches of the species were cultured on MS medium (with half contents of the KNO3 and NH4NO3) to increase the number of branches. Then, the branches were transferred to 1/2 MS and DKW media with different levels of BAP, 2iP and IBA hormones. Then the branches were transferred to DKW medium containing NAA and IBA. Most of the branch productions were occurred on the DKW media, containing 0.5 mgl-1BAP and the best hormone for rooting was 0.5 mgl-1IBA. Regenerated plantlets were established in greenhouse and then grown under field conditions.