EFFECT OF ELICITORS ON THE ENHANCEMENT OF PODOPHYLLOTOXIN BIOSYNTHESIS IN SUSPENSION CULTURES OF LINUM ALBUM

The possibility of enhancment accumulation of podophyllotoxin (PTOX) has been studied in cultures ofcell suspension of Linum album Kotschy ex Boiss. (Linaceae) producing PTOX was studied. Attemptswere made to manipulate the biosynthetic pathway of PTOX by some biotic (yeast extract) and abiotic(Ag+, Pb2+ and Cd2+) elicitors for 24 or 48 hr in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. Silver significantlyenhanced PTOX production up to 0.24 % (mg/g cell dry wt.) in cultures. This effect could be attributedto the inhibitory role of silver on production of ethylene.