ARTEMISININ PRODUCTION BY ARTEMISIA-ANNUA L-TRANSFORMED ORGAN-CULTURES

Transformed shoot and root cultures of Artemisia annua L. were establi shed by infection with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain T37 and A. rhi zogenes LBA 9402. These cultures were able to grow in a hormone-free m edium and produce artemisinin during prolonged subcultures. Several cl ones of transformed shoots were obtained and the average artemisinin c ontent found in them was approximately 0.018 +/- 0.004% dry weight (DW ). Changes in Ca2+, Mg2+, and PO43- concentration of the RT vitamin co mplex medium (MSRT) did not induce an increase in artemisinin producti on. The addition of plant growth regulators such as GA(3) improved the artemisinin production of 300-400% of the control value. Transformed root cultures showed a strong morphological instability and accumulate d law levels of artemisinin (0-0.01% DW).