SOLANUM-TRILOBATUM L - A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF SOLASODINE IN PLANTS ANDTISSUE-CULTURES

The steroidal alkaloid solasodine was determined in various plant part s and undifferentiated callus of a climber Solanum trilobatum L. The u norganised callus tissue were established from explants-apical buds, a xillary buds and leaves on MS medium supplemented with BA (1 mu M) and NAA (10 mu M). Fresh weight, dry weight and solasodine content of cal lus were measured during different growth periods. Solasodine content of different plant parts can be represented in the increasing order as stems < berries < leaves < flower < roots. The flower and roots showe d higher yield of solasodine (996 and 4333 mu g/g dry weight respectiv ely) and appeared a promising source of steroidal alkaloid. The higher concentration of solasodine was noticed in apical bud derived callus (337 mu g/g dry weight) and axillary bud derived callus (351 mu g/g dr y weight) in 41 days after inoculation. Subcultures of apical bud deri ved callus (41 days old) exhibited linear increase of solasodine with increasing age and attained the peak value of 1404 mu g/g dry weight 2 1 days after subculturing and sharply declined thereafter.