Development of an Efficient In Vitro Propagation Method for Acmella oleracea (L.) R.K. Jansen

<i>Acmella oleracea</i> (L.) R.K. Jansen is an herbaceous plant cultivated globally as an annual ornamental species. While conventional propagation methods exist, the lack of a standardized in vitro protocol limits research and industrial applications that require genetically and morphologically uniform plant material. In this study, in vitro cultures of <i>A. oleracea</i> were established via seed germination. Well-developed in vitro shoots were dissected into individual nodal segments to serve as explants. Multiple media were evaluated for regeneration and growth, including full-, half, and quarter-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) media, as well as full- and half-strength McCown Woody Plant media. Two carbohydrate sources, saccharose and glucose, were tested at concentrations of 1%, 2%, and 3% (<i>w</i>/<i>v</i>) in the multiplication medium. Subsequently, the effects of different cytokinins were assessed at concentrations of 4.4 µM and 13.2 µM. The findings demonstrated that 13.2 µM meta-Topolin with 3% saccharose, or 13.2 µM Benzyladenine with 2% glucose was most beneficial for shoot multiplication of <i>A. oleracea</i>. The multiplied shoots were rooted in vitro within 13 days, then potted and acclimatized within 8 days. This protocol facilitates future industrial applications of <i>A. oleracea</i>, particularly in the cosmetics sector, where the use of standardized biomass is essential.