Somatic embryogenesis in Asparagus officinalis can be an in vitro selection process leading to habituated and 2,4-D dependent embryogenic lines

Long-term embryogenic lines were repeatedly obtained from nine asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) genotypes by the selection of rare events, which consisted of the emergence of either a few somatic embryos or an embryogenic callus from a restricted area of a primary callus. In the first case, somatic embryos emerged from 1 % of calli induced with naphtaleneacetic acid and transferred to a medium without auxin. Isolated and subcultured on hormone free medium, these embryos developed habituated embryogenic lines (H lines) growing by adventive embryogenesis. In the second case, 3 % of primary calli developed then subcultured on 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) produced a new type of friable and yellowish-white callus, constituted of clusters of globular somatic embryos which can be continuously maintained on 2,4-D (2,4-D lines). Among 2,4-D lines, two types were identified by subculturing them on hormone–free medium. Half of the 2,4-D lines were habituated and half were 2,4-D dependent. Most plants regenerated from H lines exhibited a strong increase in embryogenic capacity compared to control plants, unlike plants regenerated from the 2,4-D dependent lines. This increased embryogenic capacity was transmitted to the progeny as a monogenic dominant trait. H lines would therefore be issued from mutation(s) occurring in vitro, conferring both the embryogenic and habituated phenotypes. On the contrary, in the 2,4-D dependent lines, the embryogenic processes appeared to remain under exogenous auxin control and no evidence of a mutational origin could be inferred from the behaviour of regenerated plants.     

The Growth, Anatomy and Morphogenetic Potential of Callus and Cell Suspension Cultures of Hevea brasiliensis

Callus cultures have been initiated from stem explants of youngplants of Hevea brasiliensis and maintained over long periodsat 30 ?C by serial subculture in Murashige and Skoog mediumcontaining 2 mg 1^–1 2,4-D and 0.5 mg 1^–1 kinetin.Newly-initiated cultures spontaneously initiated roots but,on serial subculture, this property was lost and the culturesbecame heterogeneous (consisting of proliferating light segmentsand darker compact non-growing segments). Serially propagatedcultures continued to differentiate a few scattered latex vesselscontaining particulate material similar to that in the rootlaticifers. This callus (O callus) did not yield a growing cellsuspension when transferred to agitated liquid medium. However,the large cell aggregates which could be recovered after twopassages in liquid medium, when again grown on solid mediumyielded a highly friable light-coloured fast-growing homogeneouscallus (R callus) which retained its distinctive character onsubculture. This callus when transferred back to agitated liquidmedium yielded a fine rapidly growing cell suspension culturewhich could be serially propagated at 30 ?C in the same mediumas that used for callus culture. Both the O and R cultures were2,4-D dependent, but differed in their responses to 2,4-D. Bothretained their diploid character when serially propagated. Serially-propagatedsuspensions came to contain a proportion of polyploid cells.When the suspensions were maintained for several months withoutsubculture the larger cell aggregates which developed gave riseto embryo-like structures. Attempts to promote the further developmentof these embryo-like structures into plantlets were unsuccessful.     

Plant regeneration through somatic embryogenesis on Holostemma ada-kodien,a rare medicinal plant

Plant regeneration through indirect somatic embryogenesis has been established on Holostemma ada-kodien Schult. Type of auxin significantly influenced somatic embryogenesis. Friable callus, developed from leaf, internode and root explants on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2,4-D (1.0 mg l^–1), was most effective for the induction of somatic embryos. Subculture of the friable callus developed on 2,4-D (1.0 mg l^–1) onto solid or liquid 1/2 MS medium with 0.1 or 0.5 mg l 2,4-D turned the callus embryogenic. Suspension cultures were superior to static cultures (solid medium) for the induction of somatic embryos. Transfer of embryogenic callus to liquid 1/2 or 1/4 MS medium with lower levels of 2,4-D (0.05–0.1 mg l^–1) induced the highest number of somatic embryos. An average of 40 embryos were obtained from 10 mg callus. Fifty per cent embryos exhibited maturation and conversion upon transfer to 1/10 MS basal solid medium. Plantlets were established in field conditions and 90 per cent survived.     

Initiation and growth of cell lines of Taxus brevifolia (Pacific yew)

Summary Conditions have been established for the induction and maintenance of callus cultures of Taxus brevifolia (Pacific yew) from bark, stem, and needle tissues. Cultures were established on a modified Gamborg's B5 medium, 1% sucrose, 0.2% casamino acids and 1 mg/L 2,4-D. There was no apparent inhibition of callus induction as a result of taxol concentration in the explant material. Cell lines derived from explants of individual trees were used to investigate growth characteristics. Although none of the cell lines contained taxol, some contained low levels of related taxanes. Variability was observed with each cell line in response to light, and auxin type and concentration. Growth index was most affected by cell line, followed by auxin type and concentration. These culturing methods may be useful for the goal of developing a highproducing cell line applicable for large-scale taxol production.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - NAA naphthaleneacetic acid - IAA indoleacetic acid - CA casamino acids - B5CA B5 with 0.2% casamino acids - IBA indolebutryric acid; Picloram (4-amino-3,5,6-tricnloro-2-pyridinecarboxylic acid) - 2,4,5-T 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid - BA 6-benzylaminopurine     

Embryogenic responses of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Beta vulgaris</Emphasis> L. callus induced from transgenic hairy roots

Agrobacterium rhizogenes A4M70GUS-mediated transformation of two local breeding lines of sugar beet was obtained using 4-week-old seedlings. Root formation efficiency was 61.54% for SBa genotype and 36.36% for SBb genotype. Five highly proliferated hairy root lines have been established in liquid hormone-free MS medium. Transgenic nature of the hairy root clones was evaluated by GUS assay, PCR and RT-PCR analyses. Hairy root-derived calli were induced using different plant growth regulators (PGRs): auxin, auxin/cytokinin and cytokinin. The best callus induction response was achieved on MS medium containing both 1 mg/l 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 1 mg/l thidiazuron (TDZ). Globular embryo-like structures were observed in friable callus after its prolonged cultivation on MS medium supplemented with TDZ and giberellic acid (GA₃) at 1 mg/l each, followed by growth on MS medium containing 1% glucose and 0.5 mg/l 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA). Histological analysis revealed somatic embryos at different stages of development in hairy root-derived callus of sugar beet.     

Somatic embryo mediated mass production of Catharanthus roseus in culture vessel (bioreactor) – A comparative study

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the use of liquid and solid Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium in different culture vessels for mass production of Catharanthus roseus, an important source of anticancerous compounds, vincristine and vinblastine. Three media conditions i.e. agar-solidified medium (S), liquid medium in agitated conical flask (L) and growtek bioreactor (B) were used. Rapid propagation was achieved through in vitro somatic embryogenesis pathway. The process of embryogenesis has been categorized into induction, proliferation, maturation and germination stages. All in vitro embryogenesis stages were conducted by withdrawing spent liquid medium and by adding fresh MS medium. In optimized 4.52 μM 2,4-D added MS, the callus biomass growth was low in solid (1.65 g) compared to liquid medium in agitated conical flask (1.95 g) and in bioreactor (2.11 g). The number of normal somatic embryos was more in solid medium (99.75/50 mg of callus mass) compared to liquid medium used in conical flask (83.25/callus mass) and growtek bioreactor (84.88/callus mass). The in vitro raised embryos maturated in GA₃ (2.60 μM) added medium; and in bioreactor the embryo growth was high, a maximum length of 9.82 mm was observed at the end of four weeks. These embryos germinated into seedlings in BAP (2.22 μM) added medium and the embryo germination ability was more (59.41%) in bioreactor compared to liquid medium in conical flask (55.5%). Shoot length (11.25 mm) was also high in bioreactor compared to agitated conical flask. The liquid medium used in agitated conical flask and bioreactor increased seedling production efficiency, at the same time it also reduced plant recovery time. The embryo generated plants grew normally in outdoor conditions. The exploitation of medium to large culture vessel or bioreactor may make the process more efficient in getting large number of Catharanthus plant as it is the only source of anti-cancerous alkaloids, vincristine and vinblastine.Abbreviations: BA, N6-benzyladenine; 2,4-D, 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid; GA₃, gibberellic acid; NAA, naphthalene acetic acid; MS, Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium; S, agar-solidified medium; L, liquid medium in agitated conical flask; B, growtek bioreactor     

Regeneration of haploid plants from isolated microspores of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.)

High percentages of micro-calli and micro-derived embryos were produced from isolated asparagus microspores at late uninucleate stage on MS liquid medium supplemented with 1.0 mg l^–1 2,4-D and 0.5 mg l^–1 BA. Two types of calli, namely compact callus (CC) and loose callus (LC), were found. Plantlets were regenerated via organogenesis, when these calli were transferred onto MS solid medium supplemented with 1.0 mg l^–1 BA and 0.2 mg l^–1 IBA 6 weeks. Embryos were produced from liquid cultured microspores, or from solid cultured micro-calli. The frequencies of haploid plant production from organogenesis and embryogenesis were compared. Effects of plant growth regulators on callus production, plantlet regeneration, and haploid plant production were tested. The combination of BA 1.0 mg l^–1 and IBA 0.2 mg l^–1 resulted the highest precentage of haploid plant production (7.7% from CC, 4.3% from LC).Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - IBA 3-indolybutyric acid - BA 6-binzyladinine - NAA naphtalene acetic acid - MS Murashige and Skoog     

Effect of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid on callus induction and plant regeneration in anther culture of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

 Anthers from a doubled-haploid line of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv. Pavon 76 were plated in liquid P-4 medium supplemented with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) at four concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 mg/l) for 5, 10, 15, and 25 days before being transferred to another medium with the same or reduced 2,4-D concentrations for the remainder of the induction phase for a total of 45 days. Incubation with 0.5 mg/l 2,4-D for 45 days produced lower callus yield and plant regeneration, indicative of insufficient auxin for callus induction. Callus yield and regeneration frequencies were higher with 1.0 mg/l 2,4-D. With 2.0 or 4.0 mg/l 2,4-D, an induction period of 10 or 15 days was sufficient for initiation of callus development. The extended presence of 2–4 mg/l 2,4-D in the medium beyond the initiation phase was detrimental to plant regeneration. Thus optimal callus induction and plant regeneration could be obtained through manipulating the 2,4-D concentration and the duration of its presence in the induction medium. Received: 1 December 1997 / Revision received: 15 February 1999 / Accepted: 26 February 1999     

Tissue,cell culture and micropropagation of Mandevilla velutina,a natural source of a bradykinin antagonist

Leaf, stem and root explants of Mandevilla velutina were cultured in vitro and produced vigorous callus in LS basal medium containing one auxin (2,4-D or NAA) plus BAP. Calli can be subcultured indefinitely with vigorous growth. Subculture of calli to NAA (1.0 mg/l) plus BAP (5.0 mg/l) caused profuse regeneration of shoots. Isolated shoots were rooted in basal medium plus NAA (5.0 mg/l) or IBA (8.0 mg/l). Rapidly growing cell suspensions can be easily obtained from friable callus cultured in liquid medium.Abbreviations LS Linsmaier & Skoog - 2,4-D 2,4 dichlorophenoxi-acetic acid - NAA -naphthalene-acetic acid - GA₃ gibberellic acid - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - IBA indole-3-butyric acid     

Callus-mediated organogenesis and effect of growth regulators on production of different valepotriates in Indian valerian (Valeriana jatamansi Jones.)

A reproducible and efficient callus-mediated shoot regeneration system was developed for the large-scale production of Valeriana jatamansi Jones., a highly medicinal plant species of global pharmaceutical importance. Effect of Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) on callus induction and production of valepotriates accumulation was studied by using different explants. In V. jatamansi, the degree of callus induction varied significantly depending on explants type and the growth regulators used. Among different explants used, rhizomes have the highest callus induction potential followed by leaf. The callus induction frequency was found to be optimum in rhizome explants on media supplemented with 0.5 mg/l 2,4-D. The regenerative ability of proliferated compact calli was studied by the application of cytokinins alone and in combination with auxin. MS medium fortified with 0.75 mg/l thidiazuron in combination with 0.5 mg/l NAA showed the highest regeneration frequency (88.6 %) and produced the maximum number of shoot buds (15.20 ± 0.20) capable of growing into single plants. Vigorous callus obtained from MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of 2,4-D, NAA and IBA were used for industrially important valepotriates [acevaltrate (ACE), valtrate (VAL) and didrovaltrate (DID)] analysis. High performance liquid chromatography analysis of callus revealed that medium with 2,4-D (1 mg/l) was found responsible for increasing ACE and DID yield, whereas VAL production was higher in case of medium supplemented with NAA (1 mg/l). However, the accumulation of valepotriates in callus decreased in logarithmic phase after 8 weeks. IBA was not beneficial for the valepotriate synthesis, as it helped to accumulate significantly lower concentration of ACE, VAL and DID. Micropropagated plantlets with well-developed root system were successfully acclimatized in greenhouse condition, in root trainers containing garden soil with a survival frequency of 100 %. As Indian valerian is a highly traded medicinal plant due to extensive use of its industrially important secondary metabolites, the present system can be utilized to obtain mass multiplication of the species as well as for the stable biomass and continuous valepotriate production for the pharmaceutical industries.     

Morphogenesis and plant regeneration from cultured endosperm of Emblica officinalis Gaertn

Mature endosperm of Emblica Officinalis (Euphorbiaceae) formed a continously growing callus on MS medium supplemented with an auxin (2,4-D or IAA) and a cytokinin (K or BAP). Subculture of callus on MS with BAP (0.2 mg/l) and IAA (0.1 mg/l) resulted in formation of shoots and embryo-like structures in 50 and 8 per cent cultures, respectively. Regeneration of shoots was more frequent when both BAP (0.2 mg/l) and IAA (0.1 mg/l) were present than on BAP (0.2 mg/l) alone. The embryo-like structures produced plantlets.Abbreviations BAP benzylaminopurine - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - GA₃ gibberellic acid - IAA indoleacetic acid - K kinetin - NAA naphthaleneacetic acid - PDB para-dichlorobenzene (née Arora)     

Selection of higher regenerative callus and change in isozyme pattern in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Summary Calli were initiated from seedling roots in rice (Oryza sativa L. var. Tadukan) and subcultured at 45-day intervals on MS medium supplemented with 2 mg/l 2,4-D. Sectors of callus which differentiated shoot meristems (green spots) under the same 2,4-D concentration were selected from the calli subcultured 90 days after initiation. The selection was continued for about 2 years. Responses to 2,4-D between original and selected lines differed considerably, although differentiation was not generally seen in rice callus in the presence of 2 mg/l 2,4-D. After 180 days, calli of the selected line differentiated into numerous shoot-bud primordia and grew out new callus tissues under 2 mg/l 2,4-D concentration; the frequency of the differentiation exceeded 90%. On the other hand, no calli of non-selected line differentiated into shootbuds under 2 mg/l 2,4-D, and the frequency of the shootbud was only about 50% under lower 2,4-D concentration (0.1 mg/l). The pattern and activity of peroxidase isozyme varied markedly between calli of the selected and non-selected lines. First, two strong peroxidase bands which show fast mobility and one intermediate peroxidase band with slow mobility were detected only in the calli of selected line. Secondly, changes in band pattern of proteins separated by SDS-PAGE were observed. In the calli of selected line, there was a loss of the polypeptide bands with molecular weight of 24 and 42 K in the selected calli, but they were clearly present in the unselected line. The appearance of new peroxidase isozyme bands and loss of polypeptide bands, change in response to auxin and increased ability for shoot bud differentiation are closely correlated to each other.     

生姜离体叶片愈伤组织悬浮细胞系建立与植株再生

以‘莱芜大姜’为试材,研究了生姜离体叶片愈伤组织的诱导以及细胞悬浮系建立与植株再生。结果表明,以生姜试管苗叶片为外植体,接种到MS+1.0 mg/L 2,4-D+0.5 mg/L 6-BA+30 g/L蔗糖的培养基上,可有效诱导出生长迅速、质地疏松的愈伤组织。将获得的愈伤组织接种到MS+0.15 mg/L 2,4-D+6.0 mg/L 6-BA+30 g/L蔗糖的液体培养基上,25℃黑暗条件下震荡培养25-30 d,可建立分散性好、生长迅速的悬浮细胞系,细胞悬浮系培养的适宜参数为:初始接种量为1.0-1.5 g,继代培养的适宜间隔期为15 d,继代培养液体培养基更新比例为3/4。将悬浮细胞接种到固体培养基MS+0.2 mg/L NAA+10.0 mg/L 6-BA+30 g/L蔗糖上可获得再生植株。     

Plant regeneration from callus and protoplasts of Brassica nigra (IC 257) through somatic embryogenesis

A method to obtain plants from embryogenic callus of Brassica nigra and protoplasts of hypocotyl expiants is described. Callus was initiated on Murashige and Skoog medium containing kinetin (kn) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D). Lowering of auxin induced embryo formation. Supplementation with gibberellic acid (GA₃) enhanced embryogenic response tenfold. Passage through liquid medium devoid of growth regulators was essential for the growth of embryos. Secondary embryos were produced on transfer to solid basal medium. Embryogenic callus retained its morphogenic ability even after 12 subcultures. Both primary and secondary embryos produced fertile plants. Hypocotyl-derived protoplasts were also regenerated to plants following the same protocol. The survival of plants on transfer to soil was about 80%. The seeds from plants derived from callus and protoplasts were viable.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid - NAA naphthalene acetic acid - IAA indole acetic acid - kn kinetin - GA₃ gibberellic acid     

A method for quantification of the level of somatic embryogenesis among Norway spruce callus lines

A method for quantitative determination of the level of somatic embryogenesis in Norway spruce embryogenic callus is described. Embryogenic callus was dispersed in liquid by agitation and plated in a thin layer of medium containing 0.6% low melting point agarose. The number of embedded somatic embryos per mg of callus ranged from 0.2 to 1.5 among 11 embryogenic callus lines surveyed. Each callus line was derived from an individual immature embryo explant. Further development occurred as somatic embryos grew out of the agarose layer. This method was useful for identifying highly embryogenic callus lines among phenotypically similar lines, and should be useful for quantitatively determining the effect of medium and growth regulator modifications on somatic embryo density and developmental capacity.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - IBA indole-3-butyric acid - ABA abscisic acid     

红豆杉高产细胞系快速建立和更新的新方法

目的：通过优化培养基和培养条件,建立太行红豆杉速生细胞系,为红豆杉细胞工厂化生产提供原种细胞系和繁殖技术。方法：以太行红豆杉为材料,筛选B5、WPS、MS等3种培养基和6-卞基嘌呤（6-BA）、萘乙酸（NAA）、2,4-二氯苯氧乙酸（2,4-D）等3种激素组合,采用液体、半固体、纸桥共3种培养方法继代培养并筛选高产细胞系。结果：B5＋NAA（1.0mg/L）＋6-BA（0.5mg/L）＋2,4-D（1.0mg/L）为最适愈伤组织诱导培养基,诱导率达100%;B5＋NAA（1.0～1.5mg/L）＋2,4-D（1.5～2.0mg/L）＋6-BA（0.5mg/L）为最佳继代培养基,生长量最高可达0.30g/（g·d）（鲜重）。结论：初步建立了红豆杉细胞系快速建立和繁殖新方法,用半固体培养产生初代细胞系、液体培养将细胞系同步化、纸桥培养快速繁殖细胞系,并通过检测紫杉醇含量不断更新细胞系。该细胞系体系建立方法简单,纯化速度快,易更新,产物细胞系可作为工厂化生产的原种细胞系。     

The effect of light and 2,4-D on anthocyanin production in Oxalis reclinata callus

In vitro cultures of O. reclinata accumulate red anthocyanin pigments. Two callus lines were established from O. reclinata, one red and the other non-pigmented. The red callus accumulated cyanidin-3-glucoside as a major pigment. Light irradiation induced anthocyanin synthesis in white callus, resulting in a heterogenous red callus line being formed. The incubation of red and white callus cultures in the dark or at low-light resulted in the repression of red pigment accumulation. The application of 2,4-D (1.0 mg l^-1) inhibited pigment production in the white callus and decreased anthocyanin accumulation in the red callus. The polypeptide composition of the red and white callus lines from O. reclinata were compared using two-dimensional electrophoresis. The red callus had a larger subset of neutral and acidic polypeptides.     

Effects of plant growth regulators on growth and morphogenesis in tissue culture of Chondracanthus chamissoi (Gigartinales,Rhodophyta)

Chondracanthus chamissoi (C. Agardh) Kützing (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) is an edible species and commercialised for carrageenan production in Chile. Investigations on growth and development are needed to improve its cultivation; therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effects of plant growth regulators (PGRs) on its growth and morphogenesis. PGRs tested were two auxins [indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D)] and one cytokinin (benzylaminopurine (BA)) in concentrations of 0.5, 5.0 and 50.0 μM. These PGRs were added to seawater enriched with half strength of von Stosch solution and were gelled with 0.6 % agar, and treatment control (without PGR addition) was conducted simultaneously. Apical and intercalary segments were used as initial explants. Each treatment was tested with six replicates of five axenic explants, and statistical analyses were performed. After culturing in a solid medium for 10 weeks to induce growth and callus formation, explants were cultured in liquid medium with the same experimental conditions for 10 weeks. Effects of auxins (IAA and 2,4-D) and the cytokinin BA on growth rates of apical segments of C. chamissoi were not significant, while low concentration of IAA stimulated the growth of intercalary segments. On the other hand, high concentrations of BA and IAA stimulated the callus formation in apical and intercalary segments, respectively. In liquid medium, PGR did not have a significant effect on growth rates of apical segments, while 2,4-D in concentrations from 0.5 to 50.0 μM stimulated growth of intercalary segments, and formation of lateral branches was stimulated by low 2,4-D in apical segments. These results suggest that PGRs have a regulatory role on callus formation and growth of specific explants of C. chamissoi. Furthermore, the formation of lateral branches stimulated by auxin could be used for seedling production under controlled conditions and could improve the micropropagation and cultivation of C. chamissoi in the Chilean coast.     

Ethylene production in habituated and auxin-requiring tobacco callus cultures. Does ethylene play a role in the habituation?

Ethylene production of habituated and auxin-requiring tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Xanthi) callus cultures were compared. More ethylene was produced by auxinrequiring i.e. auxin-heterotrophic cultures than by habituated ones. Treatment with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid increased the ethylene evolution of habituated cultures over the range 10⁻⁷ to 10⁻⁴ M , which suggests that the higher ethylene production of auxin-dependent callus is caused by the 2,4-D in the medium. The IAA levels depended on the age of both types of callus cultures.     

RAPD markers to evaluate callus tissue of Cereus peruvianus Mill. (Cactaceae) maintained in different growth regulator combinations

RAPD markers were used to detect DNA polymorphisms in callus tissues maintained at different auxin and cytokinin combinations. There is a higher level of genetic variablity in callus tissue maintained with the highest kinetin versus 2, 4-D concentration. Callus tissues subcultured in a 4.0 mg/L 2,4-D and 4.0 mg/L kinetin combination showed high similarity and can be recommended as more suitable sources for industrial procedures of extraction of natural products such as secondary metabolites since extraction protocols can be easily standardized using genetically uniform materials. The higher genetic diversity in callus tissues of C. peruvianus cultured at 4.0 mg/L 2,4-D and 8.0 mg/L kinetin indicates this tissue as a matrix for in vitro selection of cell lines for higher natural products production. RAPD markers are, therefore, effective tools useful for detecting DNA polymorphism in callus tissue as well as in the DNA identification of callus tissues maintained in different auxin and cytokinin combinations.