RAPID MULTIPLICATION OF BASIL (OCIMUM BASILICUM); FACTORS AFFECTING CALLUS FORMATION AND PLANT REGENERATION

Basil (Ocimum basilicum L., Lamiaceae) is a common herb, used for medicines, cosmetics, perfumes, and liqueurs.
Basil is widely cultivated for the production of essential oils in the world, and is also marketed as an herb.
The essential oil of basil possesses insect-repelling, and larvicidal activities.
Leaf (5mm´5mm) and internode (10 mm) were excised from two weeks grown seedling and cultured on MS medium supplemented with various concentrations of NAA, IAA, BA, Kinetin, 2iP, and TDZ. There is no difference between leaf and internode explants for callus induction.
But the combinations and concentrations of plant growth regulators were shown to be critical factors for callus growth and plant regeneration.
Callus induction and multiplication was highest when explants were cultured on MS medium containing 1 mg L^-1 NAA + 1 mg L^-1 BA. Plant regeneration was highest when callus was transferred on MS medium containing 0.5 mg L^-1 IAA + 0.5 mg L^-1 2iP and 1.0 mg L^-1 IAA + 0.5 mgL^-1 2iP. According to combination of plant growth regulators, callus was showed various colors (e.g., green, purple, and yellow). These appearances suggest that plant growth regulators affected different second metabolic pathway.
These calluses were subcultured on MS medium supplemented with various plant growth regulators.
But the callus colors were not shown to be critical factors for callus multiplication and plant regeneration of basil.