In vitro culture of common mullein (Verbascum thapsus L.)

Verbascum thapsus L. is a medicinal herb and has been used to treat inflammatory disease, asthma, spasmodic coughs and migraine headaches. Studies were initiated to establish an in vitro culture protocol for V. thapsus. Explants (leaf discs, petioles and roots) were cultured on Murashige and Skoog minimal organics (MSMO) medium with benzyladenine (BA) or kinetin. Best shoot proliferation was obtained from leaf disc and petiole explants at 13.32 muM BA. Leaf discs were cultured on MSMO medium with 13.32 VM BA in combination with naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) or 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). More shoot development was obtained with 13.32 muM BA and 5.37 muM NAA. Shoots were transferred to rooting media containing different levels of NAA and 2,4-D. Most of the shoots formed roots on media with 5.37 muM NAA. Plants were transferred to vermiculite and subsequently to potting media and maintained in the greenhouse.