Evaluation of Some Growth Parameters and Chemical Composition of In Vitro Grown Seedlings of Rumex vesicarius L. ( Polygonaceae).

The aim of this research is to evaluate differences in growth and chemical composition of in vitro grown seedlings (10, 20 and 30 days old) of Rumex vesicarius L. ( Polygonaceae) on either solidified MS medium or agar. Percentage of germination increased with time from 2 days till 16 days in case of seedlings grown on MS medium, and 10 days in case of seedlings grown on agar. Variations in seedlings length at 10, 20 and 30 days were non significant. Seedlings grown on agar were longer than seedlings grown on MS medium. Shoot: root ratio (%) decreased with time from 10 to 30 days, shoot: root ratio of seedlings grown on agar was less than these of seedlings grown on MS medium. Variation in shoot: root ratio of seedlings grown on either solidified MS medium or agar was highly significant. Fresh and dry weights of these seedlings increased with time in 10, 20 and 30 days old seedlings. Variations were highly significant in both fresh and dry weights. Fresh and dry weights of seedlings grown on MS medium were higher than seedlings grown on agar. Phytochemical screening of 10, 20 and 30 days old seedlings showed variations in the presence and / or amount of some biologically active constituents under investigation such as: flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids and tannins, chlorides and Sulphates, these variations indicated that, the formation of these active constituents is positively or negatively related to time. Regarding total phenolics, of seedlings grown on MS medium, 20 days old seedlings had the maximum concentration (3.833±0.334 mg GAE s /g F.W.), followed by 10 days old seedlings (1.910±0.334 mg GAE s /g F.W.), while 30 days old seedlings were found to contain the least amount of phenolics (1.167±0.334 mg GAE s /g F.W.). Variations in the amount of total phenolics within different seedlings were non significant. Seedlings grown on agar contained low amount of phenolics till 30 days old, compared with seedlings grown on MS medium. Total flavonoids were determined also, highly significant variations were found between 10, 20 and 30 days old seedlings grown on either MS medium or agar. The maximum amount of total flavonoids was found to be in 10 days old seedlings grown on agar (106.350±3.849 µg/g F.W.); flavonoidal contents were negatively related to time. In wild young plantlets of Rumex vesicarius L. at vegetative stage, total phenolics were found to be lower than in vitro grown seedlings. Plantlets roots were found to be the richest organ (1.695± 0.178 mg GAE s /g F.W.), however roots contains about less than half amounts found in in vitro grown seedlings on MS medium at 20 days old (3.833±0.334 mg GAE s /g F.W.). Wild young plantlets were rich in flavonoids. There were highly significant variations between plantlets parts. Leaves were found to contain the highest amount of flavonoids (2835.000 ± 305.757 µg/g F.W.). (El-Bakry, A.A.*, Mostafa, H.A.M. ** and Eman, A. Alam**. Evaluation of Some Growth Parameters and Chemical Composition of In Vitro Grown Seedlings of Rumex vesicarius L. (Polygonaceae). Journal of American Science 2011;7(6):170-179). (ISSN: 1545-1003). http://www.americanscience. org .