Optimisation of a lawsonia inermis L. Micropropagation protocol and acclimatization in a hydroponic culture

Abstract

Lawsonia inermis is an important industrial and medicinal plant, cultivated mostly for dye production which is used in cosmetic industry. The objective of this study was establishing an efficient in vitro propagation system in order to obtain plants that will be acclimatized and grown hydroponically. The effect of different media on in vitro rooting were examined, followed by growing obtained microplants in a hydroponic culture, in a half-strength modified Hoagland nutrient solution. The highest rooting rate (79.2%) was recorded on the half-strength MS media containing 0.50 mg.L-1 IBA, with a high average number of roots (7.4). Those microplants acclimatized well in a hydroponic culture, where very rapid growth was recorded, and well developed roots and shoots were formed. After transplanting plants from hydroponic to soil, the survival rate was 100%. This is the first study reporting an acclimatization procedure in a hydroponic for the henna plant.