IN-VITRO THIOPHENE PRODUCTION BY TRANSFORMED ROOT CULTURES OF TAGETESLAXA (CABRERA)

The effect of different concentrations of carbohydrates, nitrogen, sul phate, plant growth regulators and elicitors on growth and thiophene a ccumulation by transformed root cultures of Tagetes laxa (Cabrera) was studied. The combinations of sucrose (30 g/l), nitrogen (60 mM), sulp hate (150 mM) and the ratio N-ox:N-red 2.1 are the most appropriate co mbination to support growth and thiophene accumulation, which was incr eased by 90% when the cultures were elicited with homogenate of Sclero tinia Sclerottiorum. The plant growth regulators used produced dediffe rentiation with a decrease in thiophene biosynthesis.