Shoot organogenesis and plant regeneration in Pityopsis ruthii

Pityopsis ruthii is an endangered herbaceous perennial species from the United States. In vitro multiplication of this species can be valuable for germplasm conservation. Flower receptacles of P. ruthii were cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) supplemented with 11.4 μM indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in combination with 2.2, 4.4 or 8.8 μM 6-benzyladenine (BA). Shoots were visible within 14–28 days and three plants were successfully rooted on MS medium supplemented with 5.7 μM IAA. A two tailed t-test for paired-variates revealed that shoot regeneration on MS medium amended with 11.4 μM IAA and 2.2 μM BA was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than on other treatments. Leaf explants were also cultured on MS not supplemented with growth regulators or supplemented with 11.4 μM IAA in combination with 0, 2.2, 4.4 or 8.8 μM BA. Shoots were visible within 21–35 days and one plant was successfully rooted on MS medium supplemented with 5.4 μM NAA. Shoot regeneration on MS medium augmented with 11.4 μM IAA and 2.2 μM BA was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the other treatments according to analysis of variance (ANOVA) with a rank transformation. Hyperhydricity and rooting of shoots was problematic for explants derived from flower receptacles and leaf tissue, but viable plants were regenerated using both explants sources indicating the potential role for micropropagation in the ex situ conservation of the species.