Substantial somaclonal variation in growth rate, morphology, and alkaloid production
of Hyoscyamus muticus L. hairy root clones obtained by transformation with four Agrobacterium strains was shown. The hyoscyamine content of the root clones (n = 100) obtained
from the same origin varied from 0.03 to 0.59% of dry weight. The clones produced
25-320 times less scopolamine than hyoscyamine. The best producing root clone was
used as a starting material for protoplast isolation. The hyoscyamine content of protoplast-derived
hairy root clones (n = 171) ranged from 0.04 to 1.45 % of dry weight. Most clones
showed improved alkaloid production in relation to the parent clone, but the mean
hyoscyamine content of the clones was the same as that of the parent clone. All the
studied hairy root clones showed relatively stable alkaloid production during long-term
cultivation. No correlation was found between alkaloid production and growth rate
or morphology of the clones.
Hairy root cultures - hyoscyamine -
Hyoscyamus muticus
- Solanaceae - protoplasts - scopolamine - somaclonal variation - tropane alkaloids
