Abstract Book - 3rd International Symposium on Medicinal Plants ...

espectively. Weak, positive and significant regression with 5.221 regression coefficient was
recorded for plant height. A weak, positive but non-significant regression with 3.858 and 5.602
regression coefficient was recorded for leaf area and number of leaves, respectively. It was also
observed that planting method and herbicide application has evident effect on seed yield. It is
recommended that for getting maximum yield in the rain fed conditions sowing should be done by
broadcast method with herbicide spray before sowing. Agronomic characters like number of
capitulum per plant, number of branches per plant and plant height has evident effect on seed
yield, and hence these characters must be taken on preference for improvement of Vernonia
anthelmintica.
Key words: Capitula, Vernonia anthelmintica, medicinal plant, rainfed, seed yield.
4.3 Influence of Water Intervals, Seed Type and Grazing on the Growth
Characters of Little Jack Plants
Aisha M.A. Ahmed 1 and Kamal H. Shaltout 2
1 Botany Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt. 2 Botany Department, Faculty
of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.
<strong>Abstract</strong>: The present study was carried out in the experimental farm of faculty of science, Tanta
University, Egypt, during two successive seasons (October 1997 - June 1998 and October 1998 -
June 1999). The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of seed type, water
regime and partial cutting on the growth and nutritive values of little jack (Emex spinosa) The results
indicated that: the subterranean seeds gave the highest percentage of seed germination compared
with the aerial heavy and light seeds; the plants generated from the subterranean seeds, the plants
growing under the wet regime and the uncut plants gave the highest values of most of vegetative
characters and the highest percentages of chemical constituents (total carbohydrates, nitrogen,
crude protein, phosphorus and potassium.) for all organs at different growth stages. 25 % cut
treatment had the highest vegetative characters and chemical constituents for all organs.
Key words: Germination, growth, seed type, vegetative, water.
4.4 Evaluation of Four Medical Plant Species of Euphorbia to Callus
Initiation in vitro
Aljibouri Abedaljasim M. 1 , Zokian S.A Yakoub 2 , and Almusawi, A. H. 2
1 Biotechnology Research Center – Al-Nahrain University –Baghdad- Iraq. 2 College of Science–
Baghdad University- Iraq.
<strong>Abstract</strong>: Callus cultures of four species of Euphorbia were initiated from nodule explants
cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium, supplemented with different concentrations (0,0.5
,1,1.5 and 2 mg/l) of auxin hormone 2,4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D). Half of cultures were
incubated under light of 16 hr/day, while the other half were incubated under complete darkness.
The incubation temperature was 25± 1 ºC in both incubation conditions. The observations on
number of nodule explants initiated callus were recorded 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of culture. 50 mg of
callus produced were re -cultured on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of
2,4-D (0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.2 and 1.6 mg/l). Callus fresh and dry weights were recorded after 4 weeks.
The results showed that nodule explants of E.peplus and E.hirta incubated in light condition
achieved the highest callus initiation (75 – 100%) compared with the other species studied, while
E.helioscopia incubated in light condition achieved the lowest response for callus initiation which
reached 25-75 %. The results also showed significant differences between the Euphorbia species
in fresh and dry callus weight. E.hirta produced the highest weight of fresh and dry callus that
reached 1.410 and 0.046 mg, respectively. The amount of fresh and dry weight of callus produced
under dark condition was significantly higher than that produced under light condition.
Key words: Acetic acid, auxin, callus, Euphorbia, nodule, species.
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