Stimulation of reserpine production in the whole plant culture of Rauwolfia serpentina L. by elicitors and precursor feeding

• Published in: Journal of plant biochemistry and biotechnology Vol. 24; no. 1; pp. 49 - 55
• Main Authors: Panwar, G. S., Guru, S. K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Springer India 01.01.2015
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cell Biology; Life Sciences; Original Article; Plant Biochemistry; Protein Science; Receptors; Abscisic acid; Elicitors; Salicylic acid; Tryptamine; Precursor; Dimethyl sulphoxide
• ISSN: 0971-7811; 0974-1275
• DOI: 10.1007/s13562-013-0235-5

The effect of different elicitors and the precursor tryptamine on reserpine production in whole plant cultures of Rauwolfia serpentina was examined. The elicitors include dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), Abscisic acid (ABA) and Salicylic acid (SA). It was observed that ABA, SA and tryptamine stimulated reserpine production in the whole plant cultures of R. serpentina while DMSO had a negative effect. Treatment with tryptamine (1.0 mg L −1 ) alone resulted in enhanced reserpine production (40.26 mg g −1 DW) while highest reserpine production (57.64 mg g −1 ) was obtained after 36 days of elicitation in cultures treated with 0.1 mmol SA plus 1.0 mg L −1 tryptamine. In the presence of ABA, SA or tryptamine alone or when a combination of SA plus tryptamine was used, the biomass production was reduced. Increase in reserpine production may be ascribed to synergistic effects of SA and tryptamine.