ESTABLISHMENT OF HAIRY ROOT CULTURES OF DATURA-STRAMONIUM - CHARACTERIZATION AND STABILITY OF TROPANE ALKALOID PRODUCTION DURING LONG PERIODS OF SUBCULTURING

The aim of this paper was the screening of the variability of growth p atterns, biomass and tropane alkaloid production of 500 hairy root lin es of Datura stramonium. Data on the long term stability in alkaloid p roduction of these lines for more than 5 years are also provided. In a n effort to obtain high alkaloid-producing root clones, it is demonstr ated that systematic selection is necessary. Comparisons are made, mai nly concerning alkaloid production and its stability, with normal root cultures initiated from the same mother plants when necessary. Hairy root cultures were found to have a hyoscyamine and scopolamine bioprod uctivity of 2 orders of magnitude higher than mother plants.