Artemisinin production by Artemisia annua L.-transformed organ cultures

Abstract

Transformed shoot and root cultures of Artemisia annua L. were established by infection with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain T37 and A. rhizogenes LBA 9402. These cultures were able to grow in a hormone-free medium and produce artemisinin during prolonged subcultures. Several clones of transformed shoots were obtained and the average artemisinin content found in them was approximately 0.018 ± 0.004% dry weight (DW). Changes in Ca 2+, Mg 2+, and PO 4 3− concentration of the RT vitamin complex medium (MSRT) did not induce an increase in artemisinin production. The addition of plant growth regulators such as GA 3 improved the artemisinin production of 300–400% of the control value. Transformed root cultures showed a strong morphological instability and accumulated low levels of artemisinin (0–0.01% DW).