INDUCTION OF CROCIN AND CROCETINS IN CALLUS-CULTURES OF GARDENIA JASMINOIDES ELLIS

Callus was initiated from immature ovary portion of flower of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium (1962) supplemen ted with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2 mg l(-1)) and kinetin (0.5 mg l(-1)). Callus on subculture onto MS medium, with reduced nitrate a nd phosphate levels and supplemented with indole-3-butyric acid (1 mg l(-1)) and kinetin (1 mg l(-1)) induced yellowish pigmented callus whe n incubated in dark at 25+/-2 degrees C. The extracts of yellowish cal lus when analysed by TLC and HPLC showed the presence of crocin and cr ocetins. Both crocin and crocetins were at low levels in Gardenia call us as compared to Gardenia fruit or Saffron stigma.