SOME ASPECTS OF CLONAL MICROPROPAGATION AND CONSERVATION IN VITRO OF ESSENTIAL OIL PLANTS
The aim of this work was to study the influence of exogenous and endogenous factors on the development of meristem culture for the elaboration of micropropagation and in vitro conservation techniques for main and perspective for growing in Crimea essential oil plants. As a result of studies the micropropagation methods using meristem explants or stem segments with node for varieties and samples of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.), sage (Salvia sclarea L.), essential oil rose (Rosa spp.), geranium (Pelargonium spp.), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.), yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.), tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus L.), origanum (Origanum vulgare L.) have been optimized. The peculiarities of influence of some factors (culture medium composition, genotype and donor plant origin, explant location on the plant, cycle of propagation) on the micropropagation in vitro have been revealed. The multiplication coefficient for majority of the studied species did not exceed 1:9, while for lavender, sage and origanum (at a combination of methods of induction of adventitious shoots and micro cutting) it reached 1:35 - 1:60 for one cycle. The conditions for long-term preservation in vitro at +4°C in the dark the explants of different varieties and samples of lavender and mint (Mentha spp.) have been detected. It was shown that better conservation at a low temperature, and then the subsequent development of the cultures after their transplantation to fresh medium and growth at +26°C for mint occurred when used as explants micro cuttings and nutrient medium supplemented with 8% sucrose. For preservation in vitro lavender as storage explants is preferably to use meristems and medium with 2% sucrose. The possibility of preservation under developed conditions of different varieties and breeding samples of lavender up to 1 year, and mint - up to 1-2 years (depending on the genotype) was revealed.