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Influence of nutrient supply and elicitors on glucosinolate production in E. sativa hairy root cultures

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Abstract

Glucosinolates (GS) are secondary plant metabolites comprising different subgroups with opposing effects on human health. Hairy root cultures (HRC) are potent biotechnological tools allowing the biosynthesis of special substances under defined conditions. HRC of Eruca sativa, a brassicaceaous plant, were used to test different strategies to enhance GS levels and to alter the profile. Additional sulphur supply in the nutrient medium increased especially aliphatic GS by 2.7-fold, but also enhanced indole GS by 1.8-fold. Ethephon as well as jasmonic acid as chemical elicitors enhanced only indole GS levels, whereby especially 4-methoxyindol-3-ylmethyl or 1-methoxyindol-3-ylmethyl GS accumulated. Jasmonic acid was used in combination with pulsed electric field treatment as physical elicitor. Already within 24 h, GS levels doubled in treated HRC compared to the control. For estimation of production potency, the GS levels of HRC were compared to contents of aerial and root parts of E. sativa sprouts. HRC showed a distinct GS profile compared to the parent plant with a higher content of indole GS when compared to sprout roots, but overall lower total GS levels. Furthermore, HRC released GS into the culture medium, which could be enhanced by jasmonic acid and pulsed electric field treatment. This could comprise an efficient strategy for a continuous GS production and mining without solvent extraction.

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Abbreviations

GS:

Glucosinolate

HRC:

Hairy root culture

JA:

Jasmonic acid

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food Biotechnology, Berlin University of Technology, Königin-Luise-Straße 22, 14195, Berlin, Germany

    Anja Kastell & Dietrich Knorr

  2. Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops Großbeeren, Theodor-Echtermeyer-Weg 1, 14979, Großbeeren, Germany

    Monika Schreiner

  3. Faculty of Life Science, Division Urban Plant Ecophysiology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Lentzeallee 55-57, 14195, Berlin, Germany

    Anja Kastell, Christian Ulrichs & Inga Mewis

Authors
  1. Anja Kastell
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  2. Monika Schreiner
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  3. Dietrich Knorr
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  4. Christian Ulrichs
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  5. Inga Mewis
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Correspondence to Inga Mewis.

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Communicated by Alison M.R. Ferrie.

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Kastell, A., Schreiner, M., Knorr, D. et al. Influence of nutrient supply and elicitors on glucosinolate production in E. sativa hairy root cultures. Plant Cell Tiss Organ Cult 132, 561–572 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-017-1355-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-017-1355-8

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