Shoot and callus cultures of Centaurium scilloides (Gentianaceae) were established and the secondary metabolites of the cultures were determined. The major constituents of the shoots cultured on phytohormone free 1/2 MS solid medium were bitter secoiridoid glucosides, swertiamarin (SA) and gentiopicrin (GP). The content of SA in the aerial part was much larger (ca. 6% dry weight) than that in the root portion, although GP content was not so much different in both parts. On the contrary, the major constituent in the callus cultured on 1/2 MS solid medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/l 2,4-D and 0.1 mg/l BA was 3,5,6,7,8-pentamethoxy-1-O-primeverosylxanthone (PX) and the bitter principles (SA ans GP) were produced at very low level. In the time course experiment of the callus cultures, PX showed the maximum content at week 8 of the culture, and the content decreased at the end of the culture period. Callus was also derived from the regenerants which were formed directly on the adventitious roots. The constituents of the callus were similar to those detected in the callus derived from the seedlings. The secondary metabolites as well as the morphology of the regenerants were also similar to those of the seedling plantlets in vitro. These observations showed the stability of the characters in the morphology and secondary metabolism of this plant through some tissue culture stages such as subculture, direct regeneration from the root, etc.
