Hairy roots of Datura candida×D. aurea: effect of culture medium composition on growth and alkaloid biosynthesis.

A transformed root clone of Datura candida×D. aurea was established following infection with Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain A4. This clone was examined for its growth and hyoscyamine and scopolamine content under various culture conditions. Among the three basal culture media tested, half-strength Gamborg's B5 medium supplemented with 5% sucrose was the best for root growth (288 mg dry weight/flask) and full-strength B5 medium for hyoscyamine and scopolamine content (0.36 and 0.17% dry weight, respectively). Experiments with exogenous nitrate added to the medium revealed that the biomass increased (353 mg dry weight/flask) and the hyoscyamine content improved remarkably (0.54% dry weight), but that the scopolamine content was significantly reduced. The addition of various precursors at two different concentrations did not significantly modify root growth. Feeding (R,S)-phenyllactic acid stimulated the biosynthesis of both alkaloids, whereas the addition of ornithine specifically reduced the scopolamine content.