Micro propagation of wormwood ( <i>Artemisia annua l</i>.) using leaf primordia

Abstract

A study was carried out to determine the effect of varying concentrations of some plant growth hormones on the in vitro propagation of Artemisia
annua from leaf primordial in the Biotechnology Laboratory of Plant Science Department of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Leaf primordial from a
Chinyong variety were sterilized, excised and inoculated on a full and half strengths Murashige & Skoog basal media supplemented with different
concentrations of GA3, BAP and NAA. Highest regeneration percent was observed using full strength MS media supplemented with a combination of 1.5µm/l GA3 and 0.5µm/l BAP. However, a combination of 0.5µm/l GA3  and 0.5µm/l NAA had the fewer days to regeneration. Highest height was
observed at 1.0µm/l GA3 and 0.5µm/l BAP. Similarly, 2.0µm/l GA3 and 0.5µm/l BAP followed by 0.5µm/l GA3 and 0.1µm/l BAP produced the best vigor with no response from half strength MS media. Results of Analysis of Variance indicated significant difference among the treatments compared  with the control which did not respond (P.0.05). Regeneration of Artemisia through leaf primordial provides a biomass of leaf material needed for Artemisinin production. Therefore, this is a viable approach to the supply of
the raw materials needed for the production of anti malaria drugs for the fight against malaria fever.

Key Words: Artemisia annua, Plant growth hormones, in vitro propagation, leaf primordial