RADIOIMMUNOASSAY OF MORPHINAN ALKALOIDS IN PAPAVER-SOMNIFERUM HYPOCOTYLS, CALLUS, AND SUSPENSION-CULTURES Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Hypocotyls of poppy (Papaver somniferum L. cv. Marianne) were assayed for morphinan alkaloid content using a commercially available radioimmunoassay (RIA) for morphine (Abuscreen, Roche Diagnostics). The hypocotyls showed a sharp rise in morphinan alkaloid content on day 3 following sowing, reachin a plateau (9 ngmg-1 fresh wt) between day 4 and day 5. Hypocotyl explants were cultured for up to 2 months on solid nutrient medium containing -naphthaleneacetic acid. During this time and while hypocotyls formed callus, the morphinan alkaloid content fell to a maintenance level of 0.4 ngmg1 fresh weight in culture. Callus masses retained laticifer-like cells. If cell suspensions were plated with medium lacking growth regulators, plantlets were regenerated and the level of alkaloids found for hypocotyls was re-established. If plated cell suspensions were cultured in the presence of growth regulators, organs formed, but plantlets did not regenerate and the alkaloid content remained at or near the maintenance level. Over a period of a year callus subcultures lost their laticifer-like cells, their embryogenic potential, and their ability to maintain low-level alkaloid production. 1989, Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart. All rights reserved.

published proceedings

  • JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY

author list (cited authors)

  • GRIFFING, L. R., FOWKE, L. C., & CONSTABEL, F.

citation count

  • 8

complete list of authors

  • GRIFFING, LR||FOWKE, LC||CONSTABEL, F

publication date

  • August 1989