Red Pigment Formation in Cultured Cells of Carthamus tinctorius L.

Abstract

The culture conditions for red pigment formation were investigated in the cultured cells of Carthamus tinctorius. In suspension culture, magnesium sulfate strongly inhibited the red pigment formation. In suspension culture of C.tinctorius, the cells in before-25th subcultures did not require phytohormones for the red pigment formation, however, the phytohormones (NAA and kinetin) were necessary for red pigment formation by cells in the subcultures following them. Red pigment formed by cultured cells of C.tinctorius consisted of several compounds. HPLC and UV spectra analysis indicated that these compounds are different from carthamin.