Factors affecting proliferation, essential oil yield, and monoterpenoid constituents of rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis and sage Salvia officinalis cultured in vitro

Experiments were conducted on rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis L. (R. o. 'Prostratus' and R. o. 'Lockwood de Forest') and on sage, Salvia officinalis L. (Labiatae). The effect of sucrose, nutrients, and plant growth regulators on growth, oil yield, and monoterpenoid production of the proliferated explants cultured in vitro was studied. The regenerant plants were screened to selected somaclonal variants with higher oil and desirable monoterpene yield. The first study established a protocol to induce organogenic callus of rosemary using thidiazuron (TDZ) alone or with indoleacetic acid (IAA). IAA plus TDZ was essential to produce large masses of organogenic callus. BA was used for shoot regeneration from callus. A significant plant growth regulator effect on the monoterpenes identified in rosemary was observed. The highest level of camphor was obtained from shoot tips cultured on medium supplemented with 0.5 mg TDZ/l plus 0.5 mg IAA/l.; The sucrose effect varied depending upon the genotype. Sucrose significantly affected the fresh and dry weight of both genotypes and the texture of callus. The effect of sucrose concentrations on some oil constituents was observed in both genotypes. The highest concentration of sucrose (40 g/l) decreased {dollar}beta{dollar}-pinene and borneol levels in 'Lockwood de Forest', while it increased the bornyl acetate level in 'Prostratus'.; The effect of calcium chloride on callus proliferation and the monopterpenes of rosemary was also investigated. Ca{dollar}sp{lcub}++{rcub}{dollar} significantly affected callus fresh and dry weight and the texture of the callus. The lower concentrations of Ca{dollar}sp{lcub}++{rcub}{dollar} produced dark green compact callus, while the higher concentrations produced light green friable callus. Ca{dollar}sp{lcub}++{rcub}{dollar} significantly affected the oil yield and four monoterpenes extracted from callus (camphene, 1,8-cineole, linalool, and bornyl acetate).; The effect of BA on the growth of sage, Salvia officinalis L., shoot tips cultured in vitro was also studied. Increasing the BA concentration significantly increased fresh and dry weight and shoot number per explant. BA affected the conversion of borneol to camphor.