IN VITRO MICROPROPAGATION OF ORNAMENTAL AND MEDICINAL SHRUBS: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF CULTURE MEDIA, PHYTOHORMONES, AND REGENERATION EFFICIENCY

This study presents a comparative analysis of the efficiency of in vitro micropropagation systems for five major ornamental and medicinal shrub genera: barberry (Berberis L.), cotoneaster (Cotoneaster Medik.), photinia (Photinia Lindl.), smoke tree (Cotinus Mill.), and viburnum (Viburnum L.). The analysis encompassed the mineral composition of culture media, the type and concentration of cytokinins and auxins, shoot proliferation, root induction, and ex vitro acclimatization. Evidence from the literature demonstrated species-specific responses to Murashige–Skoog (MS) and Woody Plant Medium (WPM). The MS medium was generally associated with higher regenerative responses in Berberis, Cotoneaster, and Cotinus species, whereas WPM was more effective for Viburnum and certain Photinia species. During the multiplication stage, BA/BAP emerged as a broadly effective cytokinin, while thidiazuron (TDZ) produced particularly high proliferation rates in Cotoneaster. In Cotoneaster wilsonii, supplementation with 0.5 mg/L TDZ and 0.1 mg/L NAA resulted in 34 shoots per explant. In Berberis asiatica, the combination of BA with IAA/NAA on MS medium achieved 100% shoot proliferation, while ½ MS supplemented with 0.05 µM IAA resulted in 70% rooting. For Cotinus coggygria, systems based on meta-methoxytopolin cytokinins enabled shoot multiplication rates of up to 10.4–10.7 shoots per explant. In Viburnum species, WPM supplemented with combinations of BA, TDZ, and IBA/NAA supported high rates of regeneration and rooting. Overall, the findings demonstrate that in vitro micropropagation is important not only for the rapid production of planting material but also for the conservation of rare genotypes, the production of medicinal bioactive compounds from standardized plant material, and the reduction of anthropogenic pressure on natural populations.