GROWTH AND ESSENTIAL OIL PRODUCTION IN ARTEMISIA-BALCHANORUM IN-VITRO

The composition and content of essential oil in Artemisia balchanorum Krasch. shoots were studied by gas-liquid chromatography and gas chrom atography-mass spectrometry analysis. Plant culturing in vitro did not influence the composition of the essential oil but decreased its cont ent in comparison with the plants grown in soil. Some factors (blue li ght, increased sucrose concentrations, and ABA addition to the medium) promoted essential oil accumulation in the test-tube plants. The same factors depressed stem elongation, thus making the plants more compac t and suitable for plant biomass production in bioreactors.