Enhanced forskolin production in genetically transformed cultures of Coleus forskohlii by casein hydrolysate and studies on growth and organisation

Casein hydrolysate at 2.0 g l^–1 significantly enhanced forskolin content (2.3 mg g^–1 cell dry wt) in a rhizogenic tumourous line, GCO-RCH-2 of Coleus forskohlii. In rooty teratoma line, RC-ST-2/4, forskolin content enhanced to 1.7 mg g^–1 cell dry wt in presence of 2.5 g l^–1 casein hydrolysate. Unlike untransformed calli and rhizogenic/root cultures, all the forskolin yielding transformed cultures of C. forskohlii have been maintained for over 5 years.