Foxglove ( Digitalis sp., Scrophulariacae) contains cardiac glycoside compounds that digoxin and digitoxin are still useful drugs for treatment of heart congestive disorders. Use of plant cell and tissue culture can be effective in large scale and stable production of these compounds. In this study direct and indirect regeneration methods in two species of this genus ( D. purpurea and D. lanata ) were investigated. In indirect method (regeneration through callus), regeneration occurred only in D. lanata in response of 3mg.L -1 BAP and no regeneration observed in callus of D. purpurea. Use of 13 different combinations of plant growth regulators for direct regeneration from node explants showed that best regeneration in both species occurred in MSmedium supplemented by BAP. Number of shoots produced in direct method in D. purpurea was more than D. lanata and response of its explants to different culture mediums was faster. The results showed that phenol production in node culture of both species was much less than leaf culture in indirect regeneration and use of phenol absorbing compound is not necessary. Rooting was rapidly achieved even in mediums without auxins and 1 mg.L -1 Zeatin. Rooted plantlets traorted into the soil and acclimated in greenhouse. Regarding to low production of phenol and high number of shoots in direct regeneration, it preferred than indirect regeneration. The basic objective of micropropagation is to produce true to- type plants, therefore it is important to certify and certain the fidelity of produced regenerants. Considering high efficiency of node explants regeneration, 10 node- regenerated plants were selected for genetic stability evaluation. Somaclonal variation was studied by 6 pairs of SRAP primers. The average of amplified scorable bands of each primer was in range of 6 (E6M2) to 30(E4M5) bands. Most monomorphic pattern in banding was abserved in E4M5 and most polymorphic was in E6M2. Seemed this average of polymorphism is related to different numbers of subculture and be in dispose of BAP in culture medium of explants. These results clearly indicated that use of node explants for micropropagation of Digitalis with respect of high genetic stability is useful. Key words: Foxglove, Regeneration, Tissue culture, Plant growth regulators, Somaclonal variation, SRAP.
