STABILITY OF ANTHOCYANIN COMPOSITION IN AJUGA-REPTANS CALLUS AND CELL-SUSPENSION CULTURES

Callus cultures of Ajuga reptans flowers produced a complex mixture of cyanidin- and delphinidin-based pigments, of which more than 90% were acylated. The anthocyanin composition varied little during one growth period. During a time span of 5 years no new anthocyanin classes appe ared. Quantitative differences in anthocyanin composition between the callus lines and during a 5 year time span were more pronounced. In ge neral, the accumulation of delphinidin-based anthocyanins decreased. T he percentage of acylated anthocyanins was stable in time. The accumul ation of metabolically evolved anthocyanins (5'-substituted and acylat ed) decreased during passage from solid culture to liquid culture. The accumulation of acylated anthocyanins was influenced by the type of a eration in liquid cultures.