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Roots as an enhancing factor for the production of artemisinin in shoot cultures of Artemisia annua

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Abstract

Artemisinin was produced in differentiated shoot cultures of Artemisia annua L. but was undetected in callus or cell cultures. The growth regulators benzyladenine, kinetin, chlormequat, and daminozide, at concentrations which severely reduced rooting, reduced artemisinin production. A highly significant correlation (1% level) was observed between shoot artemisinin content and number of roots (r=0.775**), but shoot number and artemisinin content were unrelated (r=-0.198). Benzyladenine increased shoot proliferation at 0.5 and 5.0 μM, but decreased root production at 0.5, 5.0, and 50 μM. The highest levels of artemisinin production (0.287% DW) were obtained in hormone-free medium when root production was maximized. Removal of roots from shoots cultured in hormone-free liquid medium reduced shoot artemisinin by 53% and shoot arteannuin B by 60%. Neither artemisinin, arteannuin B, or artemisinic acid were detected from roots developed in semi-solid or liquid medium.

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Abbreviations

BA:

benzyladenine

CCC:

chlormequat

DW:

dry weight

FW:

fresh weight

GA3 :

gibberellic acid

GC/MS:

gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

HPLC-EC:

high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

MS:

Murashige & Skoog basal medium

2,4-d :

2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Horticulture, Purdue University, 47907-1165, West Lafayette, IN

    Jorge F. S. Ferreira & Jules Janick

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  1. Jorge F. S. Ferreira
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  2. Jules Janick
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Journal paper no. 14558 of Purdue Agricultural Research Progress

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Ferreira, J.F.S., Janick, J. Roots as an enhancing factor for the production of artemisinin in shoot cultures of Artemisia annua . Plant Cell Tiss Organ Cult 44, 211–217 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00048526

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00048526

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