The influence of different biotic and abiotic elicitors on the production and profile of tropane alkaloids in hairy root cultures of Brugmansia candida
Si. Pitta-alvarez et al., The influence of different biotic and abiotic elicitors on the production and profile of tropane alkaloids in hairy root cultures of Brugmansia candida, ENZYME MICR, 26(2-4), 2000, pp. 252-258
Hairy root cultures of Brugmansia candida produce the tropane alkaloids sco
polamine and hyoscyamine. In an attempt to increase productivity, several b
iotic and abiotic elicitors were tested. Salicylic acid increased significa
ntly the release of both alkaloids (2- to 12-fold) and it also acted positi
vely on specific production without altering the production profile. AgNO3
increased significantly scopolamine release (3-fold) and both alkaloid's ac
cumulation (5- to 8-fold) in the roots, thus favoring the production of sco
polamine (up to 2-fold). The inhibiting effects of AgNO3 and salicylic acid
on ethylene could be partly responsible for these responses. Yeast extract
incremented the intracellular content of both alkaloids (ca. 3-fold), bur
particularly increased the release of scopolamine (7-fold). CaCl2 hall litt
le effect on accumulation or release of either alkaloid. CdCl2 acted positi
vely on the release of both alkaloids (3- to 24-fold), but was highly detri
mental to growth. Hairy roots of B. candida are therefore susceptible to el
icitation by biotic and abiotic elicitors, with variations in the kinetics
of induction and the extent of release of each metabolite, thereby also exe
rting different effects on the alkaloid profile. (C) 2000 Published by Else
vier Science Inc. All rights reserved.