Enhanced salidroside production in liquid-cultivated compact callus aggregates of Rhodiola sachalinensis: manipulation of plant growth regulators andsucrose

Liquid-cultivated compact callus aggregates (CCA) of Rhodiola sachalinensis were initiated from the explant of stems. Microscopic analysis showed that CCA displayed some level of cellular/tissue differentiation, which was per haps responsible for the increased salidroside production. A higher ratio o f cytokinin/auxin was found to be beneficial both for CCA growth and salidr oside accumulation. Sucrose (< 100 g l(-1)) had a positive effect on salidr oside synthesis, which was not due to an osmotic effect of the medium. The medium containing 40 g l(-1) sucrose, 1.5 mu M naphthaleneacetic acid and 1 5 mu M 6-benzylaminopurine yielded ca. 120 mg l(-1) salidroside after 24 da ys of culture.