Host: The Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists
Pages 069
Maltol (3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-pyrone) is known one of major plant-derived aromatic substance that is widely used for spice and food additive. In order to identify accumulation patterns and physiological functions of maltol and its glycoside in plant, we chose Cercidiphyllum japonicum, a woody plant which is hyper accumulator of maltol, as an explant. Leaves of C. japonicum, i.e. green, yellow, and brown in colour, were collected from late August to early November in 2006 at Toyama Prefecture. They were extracted and purified by appropriate methods and were applied to HPLC analysis. Concentrations of endogenous amino acids and sugars in the samples were also measured. Furthermore, callus culture was established for detailed physiological analysis of maltol and its glycoside in vitro. Callus was initiated from seedling explants on a modified Murashige and Skoog medium containing 2μM TDZ. By using the callus culture system, we discussed stimulating factors for maltol accumulation.
