A Strain of Rosa damascena Cultured Cells Resistant to Ultraviolet Light

A strain of cultured cells of Rosa damascena Mill. which showed unusual resistance to damage by short wave (254 nanometers) ultraviolet radiation was isolated. The resistant cells were 2.2 to 2.8 times larger and had about twice the amount of DNA and more chromosomes than the parental, sensitive cells. The resistant cells also produced larger quantities of polyphenolic compounds, principally flavonoids, during the later phases of culture growth. At 10 days, resistant cells had 4 times more nonflavonoid polyphenolics and 14 times more flavonoids than parental cells. The resistance, which was also observed only in the later phases of culture growth, was best correlated with the production of polyphenolics, which apparently shielded ultraviolet-sensitive target molecules from damage.