In Vitro Studies on Egyptian Catharanthus Roseus (L.) G. Don. : 1- Calli Production, Direct Shootlets Regeneration and Alkaloids Determination

2 Abstract: Catharanthus roseus plants produce many of pharmaceutical important indole alakaloids such as vinblastine and vicristine which are used as antineoplastic medicines. Calli were produced from shoot tip, leaf, stem ant root explants as well as from seeds of Egyptian C. roseus. MS- media were supplemented with 2,4-D; 2,4-D and Kin ; NAA or NAA and BAp to study their effect on enhancement of calli production or direct shootlets regeneration. Mass calli were produced from MS medium contained 1 mg/l each of 2,4-D and Kin. Shoot tip explants gave highest value of calli production and direct shootlets regeneration on modified MS-medium with 1 mg/l each of NAA and BAp than other explants. Growth dynamics of different type calli were studied during and after 5 weeks of cultivation. The highest value of total alkaloids was resulted from shoot tip derived direct shootlets regeneration and root derived calli cultures, respectively.