Regeneration of plantlets from embryo explants of Bunium persicum (Boiss.) B. Fedtsch.

Parsi Zira, Bunium persicum (Boiss.) B. Fedtsch., or Black Zira, a member of the Umbelifereae family, is one of the oldest and economically most important spices. Generally, there is limited information about in vitro culture of Bunium persicum. A new simple method was developed for regeneration of Parsi Zira. This method yielded a large number of shoots within short period of time (30–40 days) without any subculturing. The effect of various combinations of plant growth regulators (PGRs) on callus formation and shoot regeneration were investigated on MS medium. Simultaneous callus and root formation and shoot regeneration were obtained. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with 30 treatments and 10 replications per treatment. The best treatment for regeneration was the medium supplemented with 0.1 mg l⁻¹ α-Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 2 mg l⁻¹ kinetin (Kin). The highest somatic embryogenesis were obtained in the treatment containing 0.1 mg l⁻¹ NAA and 0.5 mg l⁻¹ Kin. The medium containing 2 mg l⁻¹ NAA and 2 mg l⁻¹ Kin was the best treatment for callus and root induction and regeneration simultaneously.