Y. Sugimura et al., ESSENTIAL OIL PRODUCTION INCREASED BY USING VIRUS-FREE PATCHOULI PLANTS DERIVED FROM MERISTEM-TIP CULTURE, Plant Pathology, 44(3), 1995, pp. 510-515
For the production of virus-free patchouli (Pogostemon cablin), isolat
ed meristem tips were cultured on a medium supplemented with 0.2 ppm 6
-benzylaminopurine. Multiple shoot proliferation was initiated during
the culture. Complete plantlets were regenerated by transferring multi
ple shoots to a medium devoid of phytohormones. Plantlets thus produce
d were transplanted to soil with a high rate of survival and tested by
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to check elimination of pat
chouli mild mosaic virus. Following further propagation by stem cuttin
gs, virus-free plants were grown in the northern and southern parts of
Mindanao Island, Philippines. Significant increases in biomass and es
sential oil yield were observed in virus-free plants grown at both loc
alities. Using gas chromatographic analyses, a full set of major sesqu
iterpenes was detected in the essential oils recovered from virus-free
patchouli plants. Reinfection of healthy clones with the virus took p
lace within 4 months of cultivation in the field.