TISSUE-CULTURES OF ARTEMISIA-PALLENS - ORGANOGENESIS, TERPENOID PRODUCTION

Germinated seedlings of Artemisia pallens gave three types of cultures on MS medium supplemented with different plant growth hormones. Medium containing BA+2,4-D stimulated unorganized callus; BA+IAA medium, semi-organized tissues interspersed with shoot buds; and BA+NAA+IAA medium, multiple shoot cultures. The in vitro shoots developed roots in medium devoid of growth hormones. TLC and GLC analysis of the tissue extracts showed that linalool was present in the cultured tissues, with maximum concentration in the unorganized tissue. Although the TLC profiles of the three culture extracts were similar, the extracts did not contain the major polar compounds of the plant. The plant extracts contained more polar compounds and gave the characteristic fragrance of davana. © 1990 Kluwer Academic Publishers.