Forskolin synthesis in in vitro cultures of Coleus forskohlii Briq transformed with Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated tumor tissue and shooty teratomas of Coleus forskohlii were cultured in vitro. Forskolin was detected in tumorous callus (0.002%), rhizogenic callus (0.011%) and root cultures (0.014%), but not in shooty teratomas. Forskolin synthesis and accumulation in tumorous C. forskohlii cultures may permit the elucidation of diterpene metabolism in this species.Abbreviations B₅ medium after Gamborg et al. (1968) - 2,4-D 2,4, dichlorophenoxyaceticacid - MS medium after Murashige and Skoog (1962) - BAP benzylaminopurine - IBA indole-3-butyric acid - Kn kinetin - CH casein hydrolysate - T-DNA transferred DNA