Abstract: In order to establish a high effective regeneration system of Salvia Splendens, the effects of different sterilization time of 0.1% HgCl2 (mercuric chloride)on contamination rate and germination rate of seeds and explants including leaf segments, stem segments and stems segments with axillary bud, and the effects of different hormones on callus induction rate and callus differentiation rate of explants were studied. The results showed that 9 min with 0.1% HgCl2 was a ideal explants surface sterilization time, and seeds sterilized with 0.1% HgCl2 for 8 min showed lower contamination rate and higher germination rate. This study also indicated that both leave and stem segments could be induced good calli but whose further adventitious buds differentiation was difficult. While the stem segments with axillary bud could regenerate more young plants and the optimal medium of callus formation was the solid 1/2 MS (Murashige and Skoog) medium with combinations of 1.5 mg·L-1 6-BA (6-benzylaminopurine), 1.0 mg·L-1 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) and 0.2 mg·L-1 NAA (1-naphthaleneacetic acid), the suitable differentiation medium was the solid 1/2 MS medium in combination with 2.0 mg·L-1 6-BA and 0.1 mg·L-1 NAA. In addition, the rooting rate of regenerated shoots was more than 90% in 1/2 MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg·L-1 NAA, and the survival rate of transferred plantlets was up to 80%．

Key words: Salvia splendens, explants, tissue culture, regeneration system