Effect of picloram and methyl jasmonate on growth and taxane accumulation in callus culture of Taxus x media var. Hatfieldii

We have analysed the effect of some culture conditions and media components on callus growth rate and production of taxanes in callus of Taxus x media var. Hatfieldii. For callus induction and maintenance a Gamborg B5 medium and a White-Rangaswamy medium (WR) with different modifications were used. On an improved WR medium (containing 10 mu M picloram) the callus growth factor increased up to 5.8 fold (fresh weight). Picloram only enhanced the growth of callus, but not taxane production. On WR medium with (100 mu M) methyl jasmonate the paclitaxel content increased from 2.37 mu g g(-1) to 90 mu g g(-1) and cephalomannine from 5.14 mu g g(-1) to 29.14 mu g g(-1) (dry weight), whereas growth of the cultures ceased. The presence of paclitaxel and cephalomannine was established by high performance liquid chromatography.