The Role of Two Phthalimide Derivatives in the Initiation, Growth and Differentiation of Nigella sativa L. Callus

Abstract

The study includes evaluation for the efficiency of two of phthalimide derivatives to clarify their effects on seedling stem explants (containing nodes) of Nigella sativa L. to initiate callus and their effects on callus growth and differentiation. The results referred that the addition of each of N-(2-hydroxyphenyl) phthalimide (A) and N-(2-carboxyphenyl)phthalimide (B) with concentration of (10-4, 10-6, 10-8) molar alone or with (10-6) molar each of (2,4-D, NAA, and BA) alone resulted in callus growth, remarkly the highest fresh weights of callus recorded are (12.657 and 9.77) g when 10-6 molar of each A or B compound was added alone after 75 days of growth alternatively. Whereas the addition of 10-6 molar of each A or B with 10-6 molar 2,4-D enhanced callus growth to reach (23.33 and 19.03)g alternatively, in comparison with the fresh weight of callus grown on MS with addition of 10-6 molar of BA and 10-6 molar of each A or B reached (13.72 and 20.53)g after 75 days of growth alternatively compared with (16.24) g that on standard medium (MSt). The results revealed also that the addition of 10-6 molar of compound B with NAA increased the weight to reach 10.8 g with the enhancement of root formation from callus, and the roots formation was continued to grow after more than 75 days of culture. The addition of 10-8 molar of compound B enhanced root formation to reach (4) in number and 2.83 cm in length, whereas, the addition of 10-4 molar of compound A enhanced shoots, which reached to 3 in number and 2.5 cm in length, in addition to the enhancement of the flowerings. The result also showed that the best media to induce the growth of callus are those which contain (10-6) M of compound A.