LONG-TERM EFFECT OF A PYTHIUM ELICITOR TREATMENT ON THE GROWTH AND ALKALOID PRODUCTION OF CATHARANTHUS-ROSEUS CELL-SUSPENSIONS

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.