THE EFFECT OF ALPHA-NAPHTHALENE ACETIC-ACID (NAA) AND BENZYLAMINOPURINE (BAP) ON THE ACCUMULATION OF VOLATILE OIL COMPONENTS IN CELL-CULTURES OF TARRAGON (ARTEMISIA-DRACUNCULUS)

Disorganized cells of A. dracunculus have been demonstrated to be competent to synthesize the four phenylpropene compounds characteristic of tarragon essential oil. Allylanisole and methyl eugenol, the major components, are accumulated at particularly low levels and are inhibited largely by the presence of exogenous NAA. Volatilization, active metabolism, and autotoxicity of these compounds are involved in limiting their accumulation. The data reported here suggest that both limited expression of specific synthetic pathways, and the absence of suitable (inert) accumulation sites can restrict accumulation of phenylpropenes in disorganized cultures of A. dracunculus.