EFFECT OF EGYPTIAN GOOSEBERRY ECOTYPES (Phyllanthus atropurpureus L.) AND GROWTH REGULATORS ON DIRECT MICROPROPAGATION, CALLUS INDUCTION, TOTAL ALKALOIDS AND PHENOLIC CONTENT

The effect of different Egyptian P. atropurpureus ecotypes(Sharkia, Ismailia and Cairo) and growth regulators on direct pathway (micro propagation), indirect pathway (callus induction), as well as alkaloids and phenolic content were determined. Murashige and skoog (MS) medium supplemented with four different growth regulators was applied for micro propagation, i.e. M0: (without hormone), M1: 1 mg/l Benzyl Adenine (BA), M2: 2 mg/l (BA), and M3: 4 mg/l (BA). Four different growth regulators for rooting, i.e. M0 (without hormone), M4: 0.50 mg/l Indol buteric acid (IBA) + 0.50 mg/l  Indol acetic acid (IAA), M5: 1 mg/l (IBA) and M6: 2 mg/l (IBA). As well as four different growth regulators for callus induction, i.e. M0: (without hormone), M7: 2 mg/l 1-Naphthalen acetic acid (NAA) + 0.2 mg/l (BA), M8: 1 mg/l 2, 4 Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2, 4-D) and M9: 2 mg/l (2, 4-D). The results showed that Sharkia ecotype gave highly genetic response for micro propagation (2.91 shoots) followed by Ismailia, medium (M1) gave highly genetic response for micro propagation (2.66 shoots) followed by M0, and the interaction between Sharkia ecotype and medium (M1) gave significant for shoot number, shoot length, fresh weight, dry weight, shooting percentages, leaf number and internode number. Sharkia ecotype gave highly genetic response for rooting (4.33 roots) followed by Ismailia, medium (M4) gave highly genetic response for rooting (2.4 roots) followed by M0, and the interaction between Sharkia ecotype and medium (M4) was significant for root number, root length and rooting percentages. Sharkia ecotype gave highly genetic response for callus induction frequencies (88.8%) followed by Ismailia, medium (M8) gave highly genetic response for callus induction frequencies (81.4%) followed by M9, and the interaction between Sharkia ecotype and medium (M8) gave significant for callus fresh weight, callus dry weight, callus induction frequency and callusing Initiation time/day. Total alkaloids content (TAC) was estimated using spectrophotometer with bromocresol green (BCG) in three different parts (leaf, stem and callus). The results showed that Ismailia ecotype gave highly genetic response for TAC (1.60 mg/g) followed by Sharkia, stem gave highly genetic response for TAC (0.86 mg/g) followed by leaf. Total phenolic content (TPC) was estimated using spectrophotometer with folin- ciocalteu method in the whole plant. The results showed that Ismailia ecotype was the highest significant for TPC (2.513 mg/g) followed by Sharkia. Cairo ecotype was the lowest value in TAC and TPC.