Response of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis l.) genotypes to tissue culture

This study was conducted in Tissue Culture Laboratory of Department of Field Crops and Biotechnology Laboratory of Agricultural Faculty during 2009-2010. The objectives of the study were to transfer lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) to in vitro conditions and determine its response to some growth regulators. In the study, a genotype grown in Kazdağı (Ida Mountain) flora was used. Besides, a genotype grown in the region of Çanakkale and an Italian genotype were used. Seed sterilization method was used for transferring the plant in in vitro conditions. Axillary meristems obtained from those in vitro plantlets were used to test their response to different growth regulators. Measured characters are plant height, number of nodes, number of useable nodes, fresh shoot weight, chlorophyll index, root scores and ratio of essential oil. IBA and IAA in the growth media used was found to be more rooting. BA and Kinetin applications were found to be more of the shoot growth. In general practices in increasing doses, the plant has increased the impact, then a decrease occurred.