Leaf and root explants of four Plantago sepcies were cultured on MS, NT,B5, MSV and MSH basal media with various concentrations of plant growth regulators. The order of abiLity of callus formation in different species was P.psyllium, P. ovata, P. lanceolata and P.major. Mucilage contents of calli derived from leaf and explants cultured on different media are also reported. The best callus production was obtained from leaf and root explants of P. psyllium, P.ovata, P.lanceolata and P.major on NT-1(5.97mm), NT-1 (4.91mm), MSH2(4.17mm) and B5-2 (2.83mm) media respectively. There were no significant differences between callus production of leaf and root explants. Mucilage contents derived from leaf and root calli of P.ovata was more than leaf and root of intact plants and lower than seed of this species ; whereas in P.major and P.psyllium, callus mucilage were 3 and 7.3 times of seeds, respectively. In P.lanceolata, callus mucilage was lower than other species. Mucilage production of calli was higher than the other plant parts and therefore can be used for in vitro producion. Since P.psyllium produces lower seeds with low mucillage in field while producing high callus mucilage in vitro, it is more suitable than the other species for this purpose.
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