Efficient in vitro propagation of Centaurea montana L.

An efficient protocol for in vitro propagation of the flowering ornamentals Centaurea montana was standartized. Adventitious shoots were initiated from leaf explants after 4 weeks of culture on MS medium supplemented with 2% (w/v) sucrose, 0.1 mg l^-1 IAA and 0.5 to 2.0 mg l^-1 BAP. The best rate of direct shoot proliferation from leaf explants of C. motana (62 ± 15 shoots) was obtained on MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg l^-1 IAA and 2.0 mg l^-1 BAP. Elongated shoots, taller than 10 mm were rooted in MS medium containing 0.5 mg l^-1 IBA or 1.5 mg l^-1 NAA.