Selection of hairy root clones of Artemisia annua L. for artemisinin production

Hairy roots were induced from two kinds of explants and selection of hairy root clones was studied for artemisinin production. Leaf blade pieces and p etiole segments of Artemisia annua plantlets were infected with Agrobacteri um rhizogenes strain 1601. The efficiency of leaf blade pieces forming hair y roots was higher than that of petiole segments. Light promoted hairy root induction and branching. Two hundred and twenty hairy root clones showed c onsiderable variations in capacity of growth and branching. Six hairy root clones were established in suspension culture and showed obvious difference s in their biomass and artemisinin content. Among six clones, clone 1601-L- 3 produced the highest biomass, more than 70 times the inoculum, while clon e 1601-L-1 gave the lowest biomass. The artemisinin content of clone 1601-L -1 was the highest, 1.195 mg/g DW, and this line yielded the highest artemi sinin level of 9.08 mg/L.