Clonal propagation of Cnidium officinale by shoot tip culture.

Multiple shoots were induced from the apical domes of shoot tips of Cnidium officinale Makino (Apiaceae) by culturing them on Murashige and Skoog (MS) 1 static media solidified with 0.2% gelrite and supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) 10 (-6)M. An average of 5.3 shoots per segment were obtained within 6 weeks and this ability did not decline even after two years of subculture. Subsequent transfer of these regenerated shoots on MS media supplemented with alpha-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) 10 (-7)M and BAP 10 (-7)M resulted in root formation. Rooted plantlets were able to grow in soil after a short period of acclimatization. Cytological observation in root tip cells of cultivated, as well as in vitro propagated plantlets revealed that in both cases the cells had 2n = 22 chromosomes indicating the homogeneity of the clonally propagated plants.