FUROQUINOLINE ALKALOID ACCUMULATION IN FAGARA ZANTHOXYLOIDES CELL-CULTURES IS HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON THE PRESENCE OF EXOGENOUS BENZYLAMINOPURINE

Culturing a non-habituated cell line of Fagara zanthoxyloides Lam. (Ru taceae) in either auxin-free medium or cytokinin-free medium led to op posite effects on furoquinoline accumulation. It appeared that product ion of skimmianine and gamma-fagarine in the cells was strongly correl ated with the presence of exogenous BAP: the levels of both alkaloids were 9 times lower when cells were cultured without cytokinin than in the control culture. NAA removal induced a slight stimulation of skimm ianine and gamma-fagarine accumulations, 1.2 and 1.9 times respectivel y. Culturing the cells in a PGR-free medium generated skimmianine and gamma-fagarine levels that were 3.5 and 2.1 times lower, respectively, confirming the opposite effects of BAP and NAA on furoquinoline accum ulation. Growth was only slightly inhibited when cells were cultured f or one passage in the PGR-modified media.