Influence of culture medium composition on the micropropagation of Thymus tauricus Klokov et Des.-Shost.

Abstract Thymus tauricus Klokov et Des.-Shost. is a perennial dwarf shrub of the Lamiaceae family. This plant has anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, analgesic and antiseptic properties. The use of biotechnological methods makes it possible to increase the efficiency of traditional methods of breeding and seed production. Our investigation aimed to study the influence of the culture medium composition on the explants morphogenesis at 1-2th stages of Thymus tauricus clonal micropropagation. When comparing three cytokinins, the best explants development was revealed on culture media containing kinetin. Both high vitrification rate of microshoots (31.2-90.2%) and formation of small shoots were observed on media supplemented with BAP or TDZ. The most effective culture medium at the introduction stage is MS with 1.0 mg/l kinetin and 1.0 mg/l GA3 or 1.0 mg/l kinetin. On this medium, on average, 8.4-10.1 microshoots per explant and shoots length of 1.9 cm were obtained. It was found that the optimal culture medium at the actually propagation stage is MS with 1.0 mg/l Kin or 1.0 mg/l kinetin and 0.5 mg/l IAA, on which the multiplication index 26.9-28.5 were obtained. Induction of rhizogenesis with a frequency of 30.2-94.4% and a root length of 1.6-3.0 cm was noted on culture media for the second stage of clonal micropropagation. The results of the studies are the basis for development T. tauricus clonal micropropagation method.