ENHANCEMENT OF ANTHOCYANIN PRODUCTION IN CALLUS-CULTURES OF DAUCUS-CAROTA L UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF FUNGAL ELICITORS

Aqueous extracts of fungal biomass of Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Pe nicillium notatum, Fusarium oxysporum and the filtrates of their cultu re media were analysed for elicitation capability to enhance anthocyan in production in callus cultures of Daucus carota. The mycelial extrac t of A. flavus at the 2.5% level gave maximum elicitation, which resul ted in a two-fold increase in anthocyanin with maximal productivity of 23.7% on a dry weight basis. Whereas the media filtrates of A, flavus induced a 1.25-fold increase in anthocyanin production with a yield o f 20.6% on a dry weight basis, P. notatum and F. oxysporum were not as effective as A. flavus or A. niger. The contact time and the concentr ation required for maximal elicitation of anthocyanin differed with th e type of elicitor used. Qualitative analysis of anthocyanins revealed the presence of cyanidin glycosides in control and elicited cultures.