In vitro propogation of Muscari neglectum Guss. widely grown in the natural flora of Van region

There are about 25 species of Muscari in Turkey. Ten of them, including the Muscari neglectum Guss., are either endemic or susceptible. M. neglectum Guss. can be used as ornamental plant. However, there is lack of commercial production protocols for M. Neglectum Guss. Development of a fast and efficient protocol for commercial production, may contribute to the economy of Turkey. Therefore, this study aimed to develop safe in vitro vegetative propagation techniques for these plants. This study developed propagation techniques for multiplication of M. neglectum Guss. under in vitro conditions using two, three, four, and five bulb leaf scales and bulblets explants. According to the results, freshly harvested bulbs were not suitable for micropropagation due to development of necrosis on the explants. However, the bulb regeneration on the scales of bulb stored for 6 weeks under dark conditions ranged 13.33 to 100 %. In addition, 100 % callus formation was observed on 2-bulb scales using MS (Murashige ve Skoog, 1962) medium containing 1 mg/L BAP + 0.8, 1.0 and 1.20 mg/L NAA (3 combinations). In addition, 1.93 bulblets with bulb diameter of 0.97 cm (the largest) was observed in MS medium containing 1 mg/L BAP + 0.4 mg/L NAA. In the same cultures medium, 100 % bulb formation and 2.89-3.38 axillary and 3.00-4.00 adventitious bulblet formation was observed on other (three, four and five bulb scales) explants. The largest bulblets developed on two-scale explants were rooted on ½ MS medium containing 0.5 mg/L NAA. It is concluded that the results obtained for M. neglectum Guss. species are of great importance for commercial production.