Lupin Alkaloids in Tissue Culture of Sophora flavescens car. angustifolia : Greening Induced Production of Matrine

Abstract

Green callus and multiple shoots were induced from the epicotyl segments of Sophora flavescens var. angustifolia (Leguminosae) on the Murashige and Skoog (MS) agar medium in the presence of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D) or 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). The green callus produced matrine as the only detectable alkaloid. The concentrations of matrine in the callus were positively correlated to the amounts of chlorophyll in the cells. No alkaloid was produced in the non-green callus. The multiple shoots accumulated not only matrine but also 5, 6-dehydrolupanine and anagyrine. These results suggest that the production of lupin alkaloids in S. flavescens var. angustifolia is related to the tissue differentiation, in particular, to the formation of chloroplasts and that the biosyntheses of matrine-type and anagyrine-type alkaloids are differently regulated in different developmental stages of the cells.