Micropropagation and acclimatization of Helichrysumarenarium (L.) Moench subsp. erzincanicum Davis Et Kupicha

In this thesis, studies of micropropagation, callus and acclimatization were carried out for Helichrysum arenarium (L) Moench subsp. erzincanicum species. Seeds of H. arenarium erzincanicum were kept in 7.5% sodium hypochlorite solution and 42°C oven for 24 hours to ensure surface sterilization. The seeds were germinated in MSB5 nutrient medium containing 1 mg/L BAP + 1 mg/L GA3. After 8 weeks, the shoot regeneration rate of sterile plantlets was 99.1% and the number of shoots per explant was 22.1 which obtained from MSB5 nutrient medium containing 1 mg/L BAP (p<0.05). At the end of one month, calluses were formed around the shoots in the nutrient medium containing 1 mg/L BAP. Reproduction of calli was done in MSB5 medium containing 2 mg/L TDZ + 1 mg/L NAA with rate of 80.2%. Since necrosis occurred in shoots growing in nutrient medium containing 1 mg/L BAP, the number of shoots were increased by transferring them to MSB5 medium containing 5 mg/L KIN + 0.5 mg/IAA (60%). The shoots obtained were rooted at a rate of 77.8% in nutrient medium containing 1 mg/L IBA. Thus, an effective seed sterilization and micropropagation protocol has been established for endemic H. arenarium erzincanicum species. However, the rooted plantlets could not adapt to the soil at the stage of acclimatization to external conditions. The rooted plantlets obtained were lost.