EFFECT OF CELL-CYCLE INHIBITION ON SYNTHESIS OF STEROIDAL ALKALOIDS BY SOLANUM-AVICULARE PLANT-CELLS

Addition of 40 mg l-1 hydroxyurea to Solanum aviculare cultures result ed in complete inhibition of growth and an increase in the levels of s teroidal alkaloids in the biomass. These results demonstrate that sola sodine synthesis and growth can be uncoupled, and suggest that steroid al-alkaloid production can be significantly enhanced by inhibiting gro wth at high cell density. Treatment with 1 mg l-1 abscisic acid had a negligible effect on growth and product synthesis.