A novel surface sterilization method using Artemisia dracunculus extract for tissue culturing of endangered species Sargassum fusiforme.

The worldwide industry of seaweeds utilizes 7.5 to 8.0 million tons of wet seaweeds annually that are cultivated in farms, and urgent needs are growing to minimize the overexploitation of the natural populations. In vitro plant tissue culture could be one of the fashionable possible techniques. The main advantage of tissue culture is not only to overcome the excessive use of seaweeds but also to select germplasm with popular traits. Here, we present a novel explants surface sterilization method for endangered species Sargassum fusiforme using Artemisia dracunculus extract as an initial step in the tissue culture technique. Besides, a novel occurrence of identified compounds in the crude extract of A. dracunculus through UPLC-QTOF MS analysis. A crude extract of A. dracunculus herbal plant was tested for sterilizing S. fusiforme explants (leaf, stipe, and stolon) in vitro against 70% ethanol and other chemical sterilants such as povidone-iodine (PI), germanium oxide (GeO₂), and antibiotics (Kanamycin, Nystatin, and Streptomycin). The crude extract of A. dracunculus showed a high microbial sterilization effect with leaves (90%) and stipes (80%) compared to stolons which gave only (20%). This study presents a novel investigation of in vitro sterilization properties of A. dracunculus as a natural and medicinal plant against contaminating microbes. We conclude the great advantage of sterilization using Artemisia extract which might probably be the most suitable protocol for sterilization compared to chemical sterilants as they have detrimental effects due to their toxicity to plant tissues. Key message: A new surface sterilization protocol is described in order to minimize tissue culture contamination of seaweed Sargassum fusiforme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]