ORGANOGENESIS FROM CEPHALOTAXUS HARRINGTONIA CALLUS: ESTABLISHMENT OF SHOOTS AND ROOT CULTURES

Abstract

Fast growing callus was derived from Cephalotaxus harringtonia stem explants placed on MS basal salt medium with B-5 vitamins, 3% sucrose, 1 μM kinetin and 4.5 μM 2,4-D. Callus placed on basal medium with 10 μM kinetin and 0.45 μM 2,4-D turned green and organogenesis was observed upon subculture onto basal medium without hormones. Shoots were excised and placed on 1/2 strength MS salts and 10% sucrose for further shoot development. During the process of organogenesis, we also observed the differentiation of roots. Rapidly growing root cultures were established by culturing them under a 24 hour light regime of 35 μM/m2/s. Two grams of root tip explants cultured on B-5 medium with 2% sucrose were capable of producing an average of 24 grams of roots within 11 days. A 20-fold increase in fresh weight was achieved within 3 weeks when 15 grams of these roots were cultured in a 3 liter air-sparged bioreactor. C. harringtonia contains a number of alkaloids that exhibit cytotoxicity and are being evaluated as chemotherapeutic agents. We are currently in the process of establishing growth characteristics for these roots and assaying roots for the presence of these alkaloids. All cultures were grown under a 12 hour light regime unless otherwise stated.