ARTEMISIA-ANNUA L - DEDIFFERENTIATED AND DIFFERENTIATED CULTURES

Dedifferentiated and differentiated tissue cultures of Artemisia annua L. for artemisinin production were carried out. The calluses were ini tiated on MS medium supplemented with sucrose (30 g l-1), myoinositol (100 mg l-1) and RT vitamins. The auxins used were naphtaleneacetic ac id (NAA), indoleacetic acid (IAA), indolebutyric acid (IBA) and 2,4-di chlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). These were added to the basal medium either singly or in combination. The best results were obtained with 2.4-D (4.5 muM: mu0.02 d-1) and NAA (5.4 muM: mu 0.06 d-1). Cell suspe nsions were established on the same media without agar. Suspension cul tures showed different morphological characteristics according to the plant growth regulator supplied. Organized cultures were initiated fro m callus obtained on 2,4-D (4.5 muM) and from bud cultures. Medium con taining 6-benzylaminepurine (BA) (8.9 muM) + NAA (0.54 muM); Zeatin (4 5.62 muM) + NAA (5.37 muM) or BA (8.9 muM) stimulated both organogenes is in callus (frequency of induction = 50%) and semi-organized tissue in shoot buds. BA (13.32 muM) + NAA (1.08 muM) or BA (13.32 muM) only stimulated multiple shoot cultures (frequency of induction = 80%). Reg arding artemisinin content, while the values obtained were 1.13 and 0. 78 mg gDW-1 in primary callus, artemisinin was not detected in cell su spension and only traces of it were found in multiple shoot cultures.