SOLASODINE PRODUCTION IN TRANSFORMED ORGAN-CULTURES (ROOTS AM) SHOOTS) OF SOLANUM-ELEAGNIFOLIUM CAV

Transformed organ cultures of Solanum eleagnifolium Cav. ( roots and s hoots) were obtained by infection with different Agrobacterium species (A. rhizogenes and A. tumefaciens). The growth index and the solasodi ne productivity of both kinds of cultures were determinated for severa l clones. Transformed roots (clone 5) shows a Growth Index of 39.07 an d a solasodine yield of 1.90 +/- 0.08 mg g(-1)DW. Solasodine content i n clone 5 of transformed roots ( 1.9 +/- 0.08 mg g(-1) DW) is similar to those obtained by hormonal manipulation ( 1.00 - 1.68 mg g(-1)DW) b ut higher than those found in shoots and leaves of the wild-grown plan t (0.3-0.4 mg g(-1)DW).