Effect of 6-Benzylaminopurine on micropropagation of Nuphar lutea as an endangered species

Lotus is one of the most beautiful flowers that due to its sanctity, has a special place among other flowers. Nuphar lutea is one of the most beautiful lotus species that is found in Sarab-e Niloofar Wetland, Kermanshah, west of Iran. Due to the decrease in rainfall, droughts and uncontrolled water withdrawal from the lands around Sarab-e Niloofar Wetland, during the last decade, this wetland completely dried up and all its lotus also disappeared. Due to the above, which shows the very high value of this plant, special attention should be paid to its preservation and survival. After many studies, a plant of N. lutea was found and propagated by tissue culture method in the laboratory of Zagros Bioidea Company and now there are about 200 plants of this species. In this project, first, after finding an N. lutea plant, in the next stage, the collected plant rhizomes were isolated. Then, the rhizomes were washed and disinfected with 2% sodium hypochlorite. Then under the laminar hood was washed five times with sterile distilled water. Then it was cultured on MS culture media with different concentrations (0.0, 2.5 and 5 mg/l) 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) in three replications. The cultured rhizomes were then transferred to growth chamber conditions. After about a month, seedlings of cultured rhizomes appeared, which were transferred to pots and the pots were placed in water. After sufficient growth, they were transferred to ponds. Statistical analysis showed that 2.5 mg/l BAP had the greatest effect on the propagation of this plant so that 12 seedlings were produced from each piece of the cultured rhizome. Meanwhile, one seedling was produced in the control and 5 seedlings were produced in the amount of 5 mg/l of BAP. For this reason, 2.5 mg/l of BAP hormone was used to propagate the plant.