Micropropagation of Helichrysum Arenarium (L.) Moench Subsp. Erzincanicum: an Endemic Plant Species

Volume 17, Issue 1
Winter 2026
Page 269-276

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 MUS ALPARSLAN UNIVERSITY SCIENCE AND ART FACULTY MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND GENETIC DEPARTMENT

2 Institute of Science, Biology Department, Mus Alparslan University, 49250, Mus, Turkey

3 4Department of Field Crops, College of Agriculture, University of Kirkuk, 36001 Kirkuk, Iraq

Abstract
This study was developed to establish a micropropagation protocol using explants grown from seeds of Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench subsp. erzincanicum and plant tissue culture methods. Initially, indirect shoot organogenesis was performed with Helichrysum arenarium subsp. erzincanicum in vitro plantlets on Murashige and Skoog (MS) and Gamborg B5 media (abbrev. as MSB) supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), kinetin (Kin) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). A maximum number of shoots was induced in media supplemented with 1 mg L-1 BAP. Subsequently, the shoots were inoculated in MSB combinations with 0.5-1.5 mg L-1 indole-3-acetic acid and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), wherein 1.0 mg L-1 IBA (77.8%) induced the maximum number of roots. Additionally, callus formation was achieved with different concentrations of thidiazuron (TDZ) (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 mg L-1) and α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) (1.0 mg L-1) and the highest callus formation percentage was observed MSB media combinations with 2.0 mg L-1 TDZ and 1.0 mg L-1 NAA. This study presents the successful development of a micropropagation protocol for Helichrysum arenarium subsp. erzincanicum and supports its in vitro propagation via explants grown from seed. Hence, this study aimed to develop an effective micropropagation method for this subspecies, using explants derived from seeds endemic to and naturally occurring in Turkey. This micropropagation protocol, starting from seeds, provides an alternative to clonal propagation and contributes to the conservation of Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench subsp. erzincanicum, a rare and endemic plant species. Additionally, this study contributes to the development of in vitro methods for propagating other Helichrysum and rare plant species.

Keywords

Subjects
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