C. Nefcampa et al., LONG-TERM EFFECT OF A PYTHIUM ELICITOR TREATMENT ON THE GROWTH AND ALKALOID PRODUCTION OF CATHARANTHUS-ROSEUS CELL-SUSPENSIONS, Planta medica, 60(2), 1994, pp. 149-152
The treatment of a Catharanthus roseus cell suspension culture with a
low concentration of Pythium elicitor stimulated the alkaloid producti
on. When these pretreated cells were resuspended in a medium that did
not contain the fungal extract, the positive effects of the treatment
on alkaloid synthesis and excretion were lost and, moreover, the stand
ard level of production was not recovered. A second treatment of these
cells with Pythium elicitor at day 5 of the second culture cycle grea
tly impaired growth kinetics, but did not stimulate the alkaloid produ
ction observed with standard cultures. Repeated treatments with a low
concentration of fungal elicitor seemed to have a negative long-term e
ffect on both growth and alkaloid synthesis and did not appear to be a
useful process for production purposes.