IMPROVED GROWTH AND TAXOL YIELD IN DEVELOPING CALLI OF TAXUS-CUSPIDATA BY MEDIUM COMPOSITION MODIFICATION

Cell culture of Taxus spp. represents a potential alternative source o f taxol and related taxanes used in cancer chemotherapy. We have analy zed the effect of different culture media components on growth and pro duction of taxol in developing callus cultures of T. cuspidata. Severa l sequential modifications were made to the basal B5 medium, which inc luded addition and/or variation in the concentration of sucrose, B5 or ganic supplements, gibberellic acid, 36 combinations of 2,4-D/kinetin ratios, media salts and organic supplements, phenylalanine, casein hyd rolysate and medium pH. The experiments were conducted during a 55 day -growth period followed by taxane extraction and analysis. Significant increases in taxol yield and growth over basal medium grown calli wer e observed with some of the modified media.