Propagation of Ginkgo biloba L. through tissue culture of various plant parts

ABSTRACT

Ginkgo biloba, often referred to as a living fossil, is the oldest living tree specie on earth and is well known for its resistance to adverse growing conditions as well as its ornamental beauty. Ginkgo has been used as a nutritional support for mental alertness, enhanced circulatory and blood vessel health. The beneficial effects are due to the presence of ginkgolides and bilobalide that represent together with the flavonoids the active constituents. Propagation of Ginkgo biloba to determine the best explants, medium, kind of hormone on regeneration through tissue culture of various plant parts. In this study factorial experiments were conducted to determine the best explants, medium, kind of hormone on regeneration, the percentage of callus and the weight of wet callus. The response of leaf, petioles and meristem explants on MS, B5, WPM mediums to six hormones were investigated. Every experiment has 3 replications. Every replication for each treatment had 6 samples containing 7 explants. After sterilizing explants, they exposed to the treatments in mediums of%7 Agar [5.7 pH] for 6 weeks. In these experiments only callus was produced therefore it seems that Ginkgo plant is recalcitrant. These results showed that shoot tip was the best explant and interaction of epical meristem and MS medium had the best effect on the production of callus. 1 mg/l NAA plus 0.5 mg BAP was the best hormonal combination. Petiole explant gave the least response