Effect of plant growth regulators on callus production in different explants type of Black cumin as an important medicinal plant

Black cumin (Nigella sativa) is a medicinal plant of the Ranunculaceae family that used for treatment a range of diseases. This plant has important secondary metabolites that are used in pharmaceutical industry. The purpose of current study was optimization of callus production for increasing secondary metabolites, especially Thymoquinone. In experiment of tissue culture to finding the best hormonal combination for callus induction, experiment was laid out in a factorial arrangement based on completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Experimental factors including explants in three levels of (stems, leaves and cotyledons) and plant growth regulators BAP in five levels (0, 0/5, 1, 1/5 and 2 mg/l) and IAA in five levels (0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 mg/l). As the data was not normal, the treatments with zero score was removed and data were analyzed based on completely randomized design with 50 combined treatments. The results of analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that the treatments were significant on callus formation. The percentage of explants producing callus ranged from 40 to 100%. The results of mean comparison showed that the best explant for callus induction was stem in combinations of hormone (1/5 mg/l BAP and 2 mg/l IAA) as well as (2 mg/l BAP and 4 mg/l IAA) with 100% callus induction.

Keywords:

Nigella sativa , Callus induction , PGRs , Tissue culture