Production of Polyketide Pigments in Hairy Root Cultures of Cassia Plants

Abstract

Hairy root cultures of three Cassia plants, Cassia torosa, C. occidentalis and C. obtusifolia were induced by infection with Agrobacterium rhizogenes and were esteblished to investigate their production and biosynthesis of phenolic pigments of polyketide origin. The hairy root cultures produced pigments similar to those of the mother plants; however, the contents of each pigment was varied by growth conditions. Incorporation experiments using stable isotopes in C. torosa hairy root cultures revealed the high biosynthetic activity of germichrysone.