ELICITOR-INDUCED ACCUMULATION OF ACRIDONE ALKALOID EPOXIDES IN RUTA-GRAVEOLENS SUSPENSION-CULTURES

Light and dark grown suspension cultures of R. graveolens produced samll amounts (1-50 .mu.g/g dry wt) of the antimicrobial alkaloids rutacridone epoxide and hydroxyrutacridone epoxide. Acridone epoxide accumulation could be increased up to a 100-fold within 72 h by elicitation through addition of a suspension of either living free or immobilized yeasts, of dead Rhodotorula rubra cells or crude cell wall fraction. Chitosan and alginate, exhibiting elicitor properties in other systems, scarcely had an effect; arachidonic acid and elaidic acid were ineffective. The elicitors of acridone epoxide accumulation did not effect an increase of rutacridone in Ruta cultures.