CULTURE ENVIRONMENT AND STATE OF REVERSAL IN FATTY-ACID PROPORTION INCULTURED-TISSUES OF SAFFLOWER (CARTHAMUS-TINCTORIUS L)

Callus cultures of cotyledonary and leafy origin were analysed for rel ative oil content and degree of unsaturation in fatty acid profiles of Carthamus tinctorius L. cv. co-1. Four test formulations (O-0-O-4) su pplemented with various energy levels and growth promoting organic add itives were made in combinations onto semi-gelled MS basal medium (MUR ASHIGE and SKOOG, 1962). A differential rate of oil accumulating poten tial in each tissue type was observed vis-a-vis increase or decrease i n degree of desaturation in fatty acid profiles (C-16-C-18:C-9-C-15). Studies indicated that leafy tissues had more oil percentage with a gr eater degree of stability in desaturation predominantly of oleic, lino leic and linolenic acids in their storage lipid fractions while cotyle donary tissues had a fast trend towards reversal of fatty acids consti tuents. Presence of extra level of sucrose in medium (4% w/v) induced the formation of more UFA in both tissue types. The cell behaviour dur ing the present study led to an idea that leafy cultures have an extra potential for unsaturation both in control and in treated cells. The possibility of screening of cultured cells of diverse origin for produ ction of oil variants has also been discussed.