Abstract
Axillary buds excised from Lychnophora ericoides in vitro plantlets were inoculated onto MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of benzylaminopurine (BAP) and indolacetic acid (IAA). Developed plantlets were transferred to MS medium supplemented with indol-3-butyl-acetic acid (IBA) or naphtalenacetic acid (NAA) for rooting. BAP at a concentration of 1,11 M promoted plant growth (1,02 cm). Murashige and Skoog half-strenght medium (MS/2) medium supplemented with indol-3-butyl-acétic acid (IBA, 4,93 M) was the most suitable for rooting. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis of the in vitro and ex vitro plant extracts showed the presence of sesquiterpene lactones. For germplasm maintenance, cultures of L. ericoides were stored on MS/2 with 3% (w/v) sucrose plus 4% (w/v) sorbitol and maintained viable at a low growth rate with no subcultures during 10 months.