Abstract: The development of an in vitro regeneration system that utilizes a plant growth regulator having cytokinin activity for the induction of de novo shoots or somatic embryos on explants of phytopharmaceutical plants is provided. Transfer of the regenerated shoots or somatic embryos into a solid or liquid medium with no plant growth regulators results in the rapid and prolific growth of viable plantlets. The method and its modifications are intended for application to all phytopharmaceutical plants, in particular St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum cv. Anthos), Huang-qin (Scutellaria baicalensis), Echinacea sp., Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium), garlic (Allium sp.) and the like. Furthermore, a process for the uptake of nutrients, minerals or additives from the growth medium and accumulation of these in the consumable biomass of plants, hereafter referred to as phytofortification, is also described.

Abstract: A process for effectively remediating soils contaminated with individual or mixture of metal ions is described. The process involves utilizing plants of the genus Pelargonium, particularly Pelargonium sp., to hyperaccumulate metal ions in their roots and shoots. These plants when grown on soils, which contain one or more of the metal ions, individually or in a complex mixture, will uptake the metal ions through their roots and translocate them to the shoots. This process thereby removes the metal ions from the soil. The harvested shoot and root biomass can be used for extraction of essential aromatic oils, and the residual oil-extracted biomass will be available for extraction and recycling of the metals. The process also describes the use of the above said plant(s) for remediating land-farming sites of petroleum industries, which are generally contaminated with a mixture of metal ions and organic contaminants.

Abstract: A plurality of viable plant regenerants can be produced by culturing an intact plant seed of in the presence of cytokinin and/or auxin growth factors. The growth factor is preferably benzylaminopurine and thiadiziron. The plant seed is preferably a pea, bean, geranium, peanut, grass pea, chickpea or lentil seed.