Mahnaz Kiani - Ornamental Plant Department, Research Center for Plant Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
Homa Zarghami - Ornamental Plant Department, Research Center for Plant Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
Ali Tehranifar - Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
Farshid Memariani - Botany Department, Research Center for Plant Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran

In vitro methods provide a variety of tools to supplement traditional methods for collection, propagation and preservation of endangered plant species. In this study, an efficient protocol was developed for in vitropropagation of Colutea gifana, a rare and endangered plant species with limited reproductive capacity thatgrows in a narrow area of Iran. Single node explants were used for a series of experiments to select the appropriate disinfection method and growth regulators for establishment, proliferation and rooting stages. Explants showed the highest establishment percent after treatment with 2% Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) for15 min, cultured in MS medium containing 2.2 μM 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and 1 μM indole-3-butyric acid(IBA). In proliferation stage, 8.8 μM of BA was more effective cytokinin than Kinetin (Kin) and Thidiazuron(TDZ) for growth induction of axillary shoots. In vitro rooting of proliferated shoots was induced in halfstrength MS medium in all concentrations of both tested auxins i.e. IBA and α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). Eighty percent of the plantlets were successfully acclimatized to ex vitro conditions, showed normaldevelopment. These plants were used to replenish declining populations in the collection sites and conserve C. gifana from extinction.

conservation, extinction, Fabaceae, germplasm, micropropagation