Abstract: The effect of different content of MS medium inorganic salts, including macro-element, micro-element, ferric salts, Ca²⁺ and K⁺, on Opisthopappus taihangensis adventitious buds proliferation and growth were investigated using adventitious buds of Opisthopappus taihangensis as test materials. The results showed that the medium containing a relatively higher content of MS macro-element was more suitable for adventitious buds proliferation and growth of Opisthopappus taihangensis. The proliferation and growth of Opisthopappus taihangensis adventitious buds, which were tiny and weak, and many of adventitious buds leaves became yellow or brown, were inhibited on the medium with reduced content of MS macro-element. The adjusted medium with doubled content of KNO₃ and KH₂PO₄ could facilitate the growth and proliferation of Opisthopappus taihangensis adventitious buds;it showed the best performance on the proliferation and growth of adventitious buds among all treatments in the study. The adjustment, whether the Ca²⁺ content increased or decreased in media, had little effect on the proliferation and growth of Opisthopappus taihangensis adventitious buds. The proliferation and growth of Opisthopappus taihangensis adventitious buds was inhibited on the proliferation medium without any micro-element. The proliferation and growth of adventitious buds was strongly inhibited on the proliferation medium containing a twofold content of ferric salts, but slightly affected on the medium with a half content of ferric salts.

Key words: Opisthopappus taihangensis, Adventitious buds, Culture in vitro, Propagation coefficient