Micropropagation of Helleborus through axillary budding

Area of Science:

• Plant Biotechnology
• Horticultural Science
• Plant Physiology

Background:

• Helleborus, a genus in the Ranunculaceae family, comprises 20 herbaceous perennial species.
• Commercial Helleborus exploitation relies on selecting and propagating suitable plant lines.
• Difficulties in in vitro cultivation necessitate reliable propagation methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a reliable in vitro propagation protocol for Helleborus.
• To enable rapid market introduction of valuable Helleborus selections.
• To improve the efficiency of Helleborus micropropagation.

Main Methods:

• Axillary buds were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with specific plant growth regulators (benzyladenine, β-naphthoxyacetic acid, isopentenyl adenine).
• Cultures were maintained under controlled light (16h, 50-60 μmol/s/m²) and temperature (19 ± 1°C) for 16 weeks.
• Shoot rooting was achieved using MS medium supplemented with naphthaleneacetic acid and indole-3-butyric acid.

Main Results:

• A multiplication rate of 1.4 to 2.1 was achieved.
• Shoot development occurred after 16 weeks under specified culture conditions.
• Approximately 80% of shoots rooted successfully in the optimized rooting medium.

Conclusions:

• The developed protocol offers a viable method for Helleborus micropropagation.
• Genotype and subculture number significantly influence propagation efficiency.
• This research contributes to the commercial production of Helleborus plants through tissue culture.