Salvaguardia e valorizzazione dell'Iris pallida Lam. dei monti del Chianti e del Pratomagno

The Iris genus includes about 300 species. Iris spp. rhizomes are used in cosmetics and perfumery thanks to the presence of irones, violet-sciented ketonic compounds. The rhizomes of the Italian Iris are much appreciated and requested by the perfume and cosmetics industries and are often preferred to those of other origins (Morocco, India, China). Among the different species of Iris, Iris pallida Lam. is the species most valuable and rich in irones. In Tuscany, the typical areas of cultivation of I. pallida are located on the hills of Chianti (Firenze) and Pratomagno (Arezzo). The technique of micropropagation, increasing the plant production for the Iris cultivation in the region of origin, might allow to obtain a greater amount of rhizomes to the extraction of aromatic essences. This study is based on the induction of somatic embryogenesis from tissues of I. pallida adult plants harvested in the endemic area of Pratomagno (Arezzo). In this work we have developed different types of sterilization procedures for I. pallida explants (rhizomes or immature flower buds). These explants were tested for different types of media to induce embryogenetic callus and the development of somatic embryos.