Echinops kebericho (Mesfin)isthe most important and critically endangered endemic Ethiopian medicinal plant. This plant is threatened due to over harvesting of its roots for medicinal purpose, and from seed viability and seed germination problem. The aim of this research was to build up an efficient in vitro propagation protocol for E. kebericho using shoot tip explants. Shoots excised from in vitro germinated seedlings were utilized as explants for shoot initiation on MS medium containing 1.0 mg/l Kinetin (KIN). The initiated shoot tips was transferred to MS medium fortified with various concentrations of KIN in aggregated with 6-Benzyl amino purine (BAP) or Indol-3-butyric acid (IBA) and BAP in aggregated with IBA for shoot multiplication. Full, 1/2 and 1/3 of salt compounds of MS medium fortified with Indol acetic acid (IAA) was used for rooting. The result revealed that highest mean number (14.44±0.29) of shoots per explant was obtained on medium containing 0.5 mg/l KIN + 0.5 mg/l IBA and the highest shoot height (6.50±0.28 cm) was recorded on medium fortified with 1.0 mg/l KIN + 0.5 mg/l IBA. A maximum mean root number (6.8±0.39) and root length (4.68±0.22cm) was recorded on 1/3 of salt compounds of MS medium fortified with 0.1mg/ IAA and 0.5 mg/l IAA respectively. During acclimatization, 85.5% rooted plants survived. Therefore, we have documented and derived a confidant protocol for in vitro propagation of an endangered endemic medicinal plant of Ethiopia.

Keywords: Echinops kebericho, Conservation, Propagation,Plant Growth Regulator, Medicinal plant