EFFECT OF ELICITATION ON THE ACCUMULATION OF SOLASODINE BY IMMOBILIZED CELLS OF SOLANUM-ELEAGNIFOLIUM CAV

The effect of a fungal elicitor obtained from Alternaria sp. on growth and solasodine production by free and alginate-entrapped cells of Sol anum eleagnifolium Cav. was studied. Fourteen-day-old cultures were el icited with 1% FW/V autoclaved homogenates. The solasodine production increased from 0.9 to 1.5 mg g-1 DW (65%) in suspension cultures and f rom 0.75 to 1.4 mg g-1 DW (about 95%) in entrapped cells. The maximum accumulation was obtained after 72 h of elicitation. In order to induc e alkaloid release from cells (suspension and entrapped cells), permea bilization with 10% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) for 30 min was used. In b oth cases (free and entrapped cells), about 50-60% of intracellular so lasodine was released into the medium. The reuse of elicited and perme abilized entrapped cells was also carried out for three production cyc les.