<i>In vitro</i> propagation and cytogenetic stability of <i>Tripleurospermum insularum</i> (Asteraceae) – a critically endangered insular endemic species from Turkey

Tripleurospermum insularum (Asteraceae) is a critically endangered (CR) insular endemic species in Turkey and facing high risk of extinction. Here, rapid efficient vitro propagation protocol using nodal segments obtained from seedling shoots cultured on Murashige Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with different plant growth regulators (PRGs) was developed to conserve T. insularum. Besides, the cytogenetic fidelity propagated plants tested DNA ploidy level flow cytometry (FCM) as well chromosome counting. The highest shoot number length per explant were achieved MS containing 4.6 µM zeatin (ZEA) 0.5 indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). No variation (2x) somatic (2n = 18) all observed. In rooting at 100% efficiency 2.9 IAA. rooted plantlets transferred ex 74% survival. This first report successfully micropropagation for situ conservation