Shoot regeneration of mint (Mentha sp. L.) in vitro from ten different genotypes using growth regulators IAA, Athlete, Zircon, and Epin-Extra

Plant tissue culture has provided new insights into plant biology and has become an essential tool for crop cultivation and development. Peppermint (Mentha spp.) is an important medicinal plant used in the pharmaceutical and food industries. The aim of this study was to investigate the micropropagation of 10 mint cultivars (Apelsinovaya, Mineolla, Marokko, Multimenta, Serebristaya, Tik-Tak, Zabava, Mitchemskaya, Sp1, and Sp2) and evaluate the effects of different growth regulators (Indole-3-acetic acid, Athlete, Zircon, Epin-Extra) on shoot regeneration. Identification of mint varietal characteristics during in vitro micropropagation will further assist in the large-scale industrial application of these varieties. The influence of in vitro propagation on the shoot vascular system structure, tissue development, overall biomass accumulation, and bushiness was evaluated. Most mint varieties exhibited the highest plant growth on a nutrient medium supplemented with IAA, whereas the retardant Athlete most often suppressed growth but promoted root system development. The optimal medium for most parameters (growth, root formation) was ½ MS with IAA, while the addition of the retardant Athlete to the culture medium proved effective for growing and maintaining an in vitro plant collection.