Microbulb and plantlet formation of a native bulbous flower, Lilium monodelphum M. Bieb, var. Armenum, through tissue culture propagation

The plant Lilium monadelphum M. Bieb. var. armenum (Mıscz. Ex Grossh) Davis et Henderson recognized as the caucasian lily grows in the Eastern Black Sea Region and is a perennial bulbous species belonging to the Liliaceae family. Its flowers, bulbs, and volatile oils are used in the perfume industry, as a folk medicine to treat eczema and abscess therapy, and as a tranquilizer among regional people respectively. Hence, it is commonly collected from the wild and could become endangered. In this study, we explored the optimal hormone treatment for efficient and rapid induction and production of this species in tissue culture. Explants taken from bulbs were cultured in Murashige and Skoog medium (MS medium, 1962) and modified with TDZ (thidiazuran) (0.5; 1.0; 2.0; 3.0; 5.0 mg/L), after which adventitious buds used for explants during the second stage were subcultured 4 different media supplemented with different concentrations of PAC (paclobutrazol) (0.1; 0.5; 1.0; 2.0 mg/L) to induce microbulbs formation. Microbulbs were cultured in a rooting medium containing IBA (0.5;1.0 mg/L). The highest bud regeneration was observed in medium containing 3.0 mg/L TDZ, 0.25 mg/L NAA and 0.1 mg/L GA3; the highest microbulb formation was observed in medium containing 2.0 mg/L PAC, 0.2 mg/L NAA, and 0.1 mg/L GA3. Besides, plant development from the microbulb was successful for roots in a medium containing 0.5 mg/I IBA and all of the plantlets obtained in tissue culture survived when transferred to the soil.