Micropropagation of lavender: a protocol for production of plantlets

Lavender (Lavandula dentata) has several medicinal applications, both in the fresh form and after industrial processing. Productivity increase could be obtained through the mass propagation, expanding the possibility of obtaining raw material for production of essential oil. The objective of this work was to develop a micropropagation protocol from explants obtained from seeds. Aspects of in vitro germination, multiplication, elongation and rooting were evaluated and, in sequence, the acclimatization process as well. The in vitro germination of lavender seeds can be obtained using a medium composed of agar and water. For multiplication, the use of MS medium (Murashige & Skoog, 1962) added with 5.0 mu M 6-benzylaminopurine to the nutrient medium is the most appropriate. For elongation and rooting, the use of growth regulators is unnecessary. Acclimatization can be obtained directly by transferring the explant to plastic bags with substrate, kept in a greenhouse. It was possible to develop a protocol for the in vitro cultivation (establishment, multiplication, elongation, rooting and acclimatization) of lavender from explants of seed origin.