In Vivo Propagation of Root Explants of the Dandelion Species <scp> <i>Taraxacum kok‐saghyz</i> </scp> , <scp> <i>Taraxacum officinale</i> </scp> and Their Interspecific Hybrids

ABSTRACT The dandelion species Taraxacum kok‐saghyz is a promising new crop for natural rubber production and is currently in the early stages of the breeding process. To support these efforts, the multiplication and conservation of defined genotypes are crucial. While in vivo culture presents a practical method for this purpose, there is a lack of published data on its application to dandelion species, which needs to be addressed. In this study, a diverse set of 19 genotypes of Taraxacum officinale , T. kok‐saghyz and their hybrids was propagated using root cuttings. Root explants were regenerated on Petri dishes and in Jiffy swell pots. Subsequently, plants were transferred to soil, and after a period of growth, biomass accumulation of root explants from different root sections, sprouting ability and survival rates were evaluated and compared to seed‐grown plants. After 12 weeks, plants derived from in vivo explants produced lower root biomass than seed‐grown plants, while shoot biomass remained unaffected. The ability to generate a rooted, cloned plant within just a few weeks represents a major advantage over the in vitro approach. T. officinale and its hybrids demonstrated higher survival rates than T. kok‐saghyz . The study also demonstrated that both the root section used and the growth temperature influence plant regeneration. Additionally, the use of Jiffy swell pots further enhanced the regeneration rate. We successfully developed a simple and reproducible protocol for in vivo propagation to produce cloned genotypes. This method provides a cost‐effective and rapid alternative to in vitro culture, which requires complex laboratory procedures.