Production of ginkgolides and bilobalide by Ginkgo biloba plants and tissue cultures

The accumulation of the terpenes ginkgolides and bilobalide In Ginkgo bilob a was reported in plants as well as in plant cell cultures. Several hundred plants cultivated under controlled conditions in the field have been analy zed for their terpene production over many years. Cross-pollination experim ents were performed with mature trees and the terpene content of the progen y was analyzed. The age of the tree is the main factor influencing the terp ene content of the leaves as the level always decreases dramatically betwee n young and old trees. 80 cell culture strains have been established and gi nkgolides analyzed by GC/MS. These cell cultures reveal very low amounts of terpenes (1 mu g(-1) D.W. or less). On the contrary, isolated in vitro roo t cultures accumulate terpenes at the same concentration as the young plant leaves (4 mg g(-1) D.W.). Attempts to obtain rapid growing roots or even h airy-roots did not succeed but the possibility to transform Ginkgo cell str ains has been demonstrated.