?In vitro clonal propagation of Tanacetum cinerariifolium and establishment of an ex situ collection of selected clones

Dalmatian pyrethrum Tanacetum cinerariifolium (Trevir.) Sch. Bip. (Asteraceae) is a perennial herb endemic to the eastern coast of Adriatic Sea. The species widely cultivated in many countries for its bioactive compounds pyrethrins, which are used as natural insecticides. Plants derived from seeds vary greatly pyrethrin content; therefore, vegetative propagation high-quality individuals very important establishment agricultural crops. present study deals with rapid vitro multiplication pyrethrum, ex adaptation selected clones and creation an situ collection, first step towards introducing into agriculture Bulgaria. Seeds private collection Bulgaria Croatian population were initial material cultures initiation. Basal MS medium (Murashige Skoog 1962) or supplemented different concentrations kinetin indole-3-butyric acid seed germination one-seed by consecutive subcultivations. effectiveness was evaluated number new plants obtained per shoot. Considerable losses noticed due both endophytic contaminations necrosis, especially on media plant growth regulators. These problems overcome optimization: adding antibiotic modifying increase calcium concentration using CaCO 3 . In best variant (basal + 200 mg/L Medaxone 75 Ca) no more infected observed, percentage necrotic decreased threefold, resulted formation 38.06±10.11 shoot period 7 months. Three hundred sixty adapted phytotron (88% surviving rate), then 16 4 transferred bloomed twice growing season (June September). flower heads increased second year field cultivation average 328±138 capitula counted clone. trials establish pilot plantation promising.