Use of genetic transformation by the Ri T-DNA of Agrobacterium rhizogenes to stimulate biomass and tropane alkaloid production in Atropa belladonna and Calystegia sepium roots grown in vitro

Abstract

Genetic transformation by root inducing (Ri) T-DNA from Agrobacterium rhizogenes increased biomas and tropane alkaloid production in axenic root cultures of Calystegia sepium and Atropa belladonna. Root culture, per se, resulted in an increase in alkaloid content, and Ri T-DNA was responsible for a stimulation of alkaloid production by increasing growth. Transformed C. sepium roots produced biomass at a rate of 0.8 g/l/day (dry weight) and produced alkaloids at 2.3 mg/l/day as a 1-l culture in a 2-l fermenter. We suggest using Ri T-DNA encoded genes to improve the production of secondary metabolites in vitro.