The Impact of Carbon Source, Explants and Growth Regulators on Callogenesis and Organogenesis of <i>Artemisia annua</i>

Artemisinin, a sesquiterpene lactone isolated from Artemisia annua L. plant is known for its antimalarial activity. The low content of artemisinin has stimulated researchers to enhance its production through biotechnological approaches such as tissue culture. The present study was initiated to study the effect of some important factors alone and in combination, on the callogenesis and organogenesis of Artemisia annua . The type of carbon source had a significant effect on NAA efficiency to callogenesis of A. annua , whereas the best callogenesis of A. absinthium was observed at 2 mg/L BAP + 30 g/L sucrose and in the absence of NAA, with root explants. Presence of BAP also had an important effect on callogenesis, especially in high concentrations. A suitable suspension culture was obtained in the MS basal medium containing 0.5 mg/L NAA and BAP, with 30 g/L glucose. Artemisinin was naturally production was at least 0.03 mg/g (w.dt) at the first day and peaked on the 16 th day with 0.31 mg/g (w.dt) in the cell culture of A. annua. The maximum number of shoots (2.167 ± 1.484) was induced at 0.5 mg/L BAP + 0.1 mg/L NAA + glucose (30 g/L) with leaf explants. However, treatments containing glucose did not show a good shoot induction. Longer shoots were induced in the medium containing either 0.5 mg/l NAA + 0.5 mg/l BAP + sucrose with leaf explants (1.493 cm ± 0.342) or 0.5 mg/l NAA + sucrose with stem explants (0.697 cm ± 0.930). Medium containing 0.5 or 2 mg/l NAA and sucrose (without BAP) induced more roots though.