The influence of different biotic and abiotic elicitors on the production and profile of tropane alkaloids in hairy root cultures of Brugmansia candida

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.