[Tissue culture and plantlet regeneration from embryo of Saussurea involucrate].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a protocol of rapid clonal propagation of Saussurea involucrate by using embryo as explants. METHOD: MS medium was used as basal medium and BA and NAA were supplemented to find out the optimal hormone combinations for adventitious buds initiation, adventitious bud multiplication and rooting. RESULT: All embryo explants started to grow adventitious buds within 45 days when they were cultured on the media supplemented with 0.02-0.1 mg x L(-1) NAA and 2 mg x L(-1) BA; The adventitious buds multiplicated within 30 days when they were transferred to the media containing 0.1-0.2 mg x L(-1) NAA and 2-3 mg x L(-1) BA; 92% of the adventitious buds rooted well after they were planted on the MS medium containing macroelements at half strength and 0.4 mg x L(-1) NAA for 25 days. The regenerated plantlets grew well after they were transplanted and the survival rate was up to 70%. CONCLUSION: Plantlets of S. invducrate regenerated high frequence through adventitious bud.