IN VITRO PROPAGATION OF THE RARE CARALLUMA RETROSPECIENS PLANT IN EGYPT

The study is an efficient protocol to describe in vitro the propagation of an endangered medicinal cactus plant belongs to Apocynaceae, namely: Caralluma retrospeciens (Ehrenb.) N.E.Br. naturally grows in some wadis of Elba Mountain at the southeastern part of Egypt. The current study is the first one in Egypt to propagate this type of cacti in vitro using seeds. Germination trials through seeds and propagation by cuttings were done. Also photosynthetic pigments; Chlorophyll (a & b), Carotenoid and Anthocyanin were estimated. Result of this study revealed that the germination rate ranging between 30-70% at different rates depending on temperature and storage period. From the results, it is clear that C. retrospeciens is vulnerable to extinction and does not spread naturally like any other species, despite its very high yield of seeds, Due to the spread of seeds and their transmission to far distances from the mother plant, due to their light weight or attachment of these seeds to other branches and fall in environments inappropriate for germination. In addition, the pigment in C. retrospeciens was differ during winter and summer, most of them are higher in summer and lower in winter. In summer season, Chlorophyll a and Carotenoid had a highest value, while Chlorophyll b and Anthocyanin had a lowest value, vice versa in winter season Chlorophyll b and Anthocyanin had a highest value, while Chlorophyll a and Carotenoid had a lowest value.