In Vitro Micropropagation of Selected Halophytic Species from Family the Chenopodiaceae (Amaranthaceae)

Abstract

This study focuses on the in vitro micropropagation of selected halophytic species belonging to the Chenopodiaceae (Amaranthaceae) family, collected from ecologically diverse and arid regions of Uzbekistan, including Sirdarya, Bukhara, and the drained Aral Sea zone (Muynak district). The primary objective was to establish sterile cultures, optimize the growth conditions, and evaluate the regenerative capacity and biomass accumulation of these salt-tolerant plants under controlled laboratory conditions.Sterile explants were obtained from seedlings germinated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) media supplemented with kinetin, BAP, or without growth regulators. Under these conditions, active germination was observed as early as days 3–6 of cultivation. The application of auxins and their combinations with kinetin, as well as 6-BAP—excluding media containing NAA - induced shoot regeneration across most annual halophyte species during both initial and subsequent subcultures. This led to a significant increase in explant proliferation and plant biomass production.For secondary subcultures of Salsola dendroides, Salsola orientalis, and Salsola richteri, Woody Plant Medium (WPM) was employed, demonstrating its suitability for maintaining and multiplying regenerants. The study highlights the effectiveness of specific plant growth regulators and media formulations in enhancing in vitro propagation efficiency.These results offer a promising foundation for the conservation, sustainable use, and possible reintroduction of halophytes into degraded saline environments, particularly the former Aral Sea bed. The established micropropagation protocols may further serve as a model for other stress-tolerant plant species with ecological and medicinal potential.