The influence of different biotic and abiotic elicitors on the production and profile of tropane alkaloids in hairy root cultures of Brugmansia candida

Hairy root cultures of Brugmansia candida produce the tropane alkaloids scopolamine and hyoscyamine. In an attempt to increase productivity, several biotic and abiotic elicitors were tested. Salicylic acid increased significantly the release of both alkaloids (2- to 12-fold) and it also acted positively on specific production without altering the production profile. AgNO3 increased significantly scopolamine release (3-fold) and both alkaloid’s accumulation (5- to 8-fold) in the roots, thus favoring the production of scopolamine (up to 2-fold). The inhibiting effects of AgNO3 and salicylic acid on ethylene could be partly responsible for these responses. Yeast extract incremented the intracellular content of both alkaloids (ca. 3-fold), but particularly increased the release of scopolamine (7-fold). CaCl2 had little effect on accumulation or release of either alkaloid. CdCl2 acted positively on the release of both alkaloids (3- to 24-fold), but was highly detrimental to growth. Hairy roots of B. candida are therefore susceptible to elicitation by biotic and abiotic elicitors, with variations in the kinetics of induction and the extent of release of each metabolite, thereby also exerting different effects on the alkaloid profile.