Micropropagation of Rhodiola Kirilowii plants using encapsulated axillary buds and callus

This study assessed regrowth of micropropagated Rhodiola Kirilowii buds after encapsulation of axillary buds and differentiating callus in calcium alginate hydrogel and low-temperature preservation. This method of micropropagation was applied to obtain enough plant material for studies on chemical compounds of Rhodiola Kirilowii, a plant difficult to obtain from its natural environment. Axillary buds and differentiating callus were encapsulated in calcium alginate and stored at 4°C for 1 to 15 weeks and then transferred to hormone-free MS medium. The best results were obtained after six weeks of preservation: 100% of the encapsulated explants survived and developed into shoots and plantlets after subculture on basal MS medium. Longer storage of encapsulated axillary shoot buds decreased their regrowth, but the duration of storage of encapsulated differentiating callus had no significant influence on its survival.