Peppermint is used for medical treatments of nausea, gastrointestinal cramps, flatulence, gallstones, jaundice, anxiety, sputum and expulsion of intestinal worms. In micropropagation, BAP (6-benzylaminopurine) and KIN (kinetin) have been the most widely used sources of cytokinins. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of plant growth regulators in multiplication of peppermint. Explants consisting of nodal segments from seedlings already established in vitro with approximately 0,5 cm were inoculated on MS medium supplemented with different combinations of BAP and KIN and 30 g L-1 of sucrose. The concentrations of cytokinins used were 0,0; 1,0 and 2,0 mg L-1 of BAP and 0,0; 0,5 and 1,0 mg L-1 of KIN. The experiment was set up in a completely randomized design with nine treatments consisting of five bottles each, and each vial contained four explants. The use of 2,0 mg L-1 of BAP promotes the in vitro multiplication of peppermint, but decreases the survival rate. Cytokinins increase fresh and dry weight of explants and the absence of these regulators provides the elongation in this specie.
Mentha x piperita L.; tissue culture; growth regulator
