Effects of plant growth regulators on the growth and pyrethrin production by cell cultures of Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium

A simple, rapid method for the direct determination of six pyrethrin esters in plant cell extracts by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatog raphy with diode-array detection has been described. Cell cultures of Chrys anthemum cinerariaefolium Vis. have been studied for alternative in vitro p roduction of pyrethrins. This paper focuses on the influence of phytohormon es, mainly the nature and concentration of auxins and cytokinins and the co ncentration of abscisic acid and gibberellic acid, on both pyrethrin yield and cell growth. All phytohormones maintain both growth and integrity of ce lls and influence pyrethrin accumulation and, in some cases, the relative a mount of each ester. There is no straightforward relationship between plant regulator action on growth and secondary metabolite production. Indole-3-a cetic acid and (+/-)-cis-trans-abscisic acid were found to induce the highe st production, i.e. 300 and 450 mg 100 g(-1) dry weight, respectively.