Micropropagation of parsley through axillary shoot proliferation

A micropropagation protocol of parsley,Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Nyman (curled type) has been developed. Surface-sterilized axillary buds cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with benzyladenine, kinetin, or thidiazuron developed axillary shoots (rosettes). Kinetin resulted in only a low proliferation rate. The concentrations of thidiazuron or benzyladenine that were optimal for shoot proliferation, resulted in shoots with a low capability to root. During the rooting treatment, these shoots showed wilting signs. Rooting was increased significantly by using a two-week inductive stage with 2.5 μM naphthaleneacetic acid directly followed by acclimatization. Two proliferation media (5 μM benzyladenine and 0.5 μM naphthaleneacetic acid or 5 μM kinetin and 2.5 μM naphthaleneacetic acid) resulted in moderate proliferation but produced shoots that were easy-to-root. These media have been tested by repeated axillary proliferation on the same medium. The medium with 5 μM benzyladenine and 0.5 μM naphthaleneacetic acid was optimal.