Open Access563 Influence of Ultra-high Levels of Carbon Dioxide on Secondary Metabolite Production in Vitro
Author(s) -
Brent Tisserat,
Steven F. Vaughn
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
hortscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.518
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 2327-9834
pISSN - 0018-5345
DOI - 10.21273/hortsci.34.3.543c
Subject(s) - secondary metabolite , sucrose , shoot , metabolite , carbon dioxide , chemistry , primary metabolite , murashige and skoog medium , botany , food science , dichloromethane , horticulture , in vitro , explant culture , biology , biochemistry , solvent , organic chemistry , gene
The influence of a wide range of CO 2 levels on the growth, morphogenesis, and secondary metabolite production in vitro was evaluated. Shoots of thyme ( Thymus vulgaris L.) and a spearmint–peppermint cross ( Mentha spicata × Mentha piperita ) were grown on MS medium with and without 3% sucrose under 350, 1500, 3000, 10,000, and 30,000 μL CO 2 /L for 8 weeks. Dichloromethane extracts from leafs were analyzed using GC-MS techniques. Prominent peaks were identified by comparison with known standards. Highest growth (i.e., fresh weight) and morphogenesis responses (i.e., leafs, shoots and roots) were obtained when shoots were grown under 10,000 μL CO 2 /L regardless of whether or not sucrose was included in the medium. Ultra-high CO 2 concentrations (3000 μL CO 2 /L) stimulated secondary metabolite production regardless of whether or not the medium contained sucrose. However, the combination of certain ultra-high CO 2 levels (e.g., 3000 to 10,000 μL CO 2 /L) and the presence of sucrose in the medium resulted in shoots producing the highest levels of secondary metabolites. These results suggest that in vitro photosynthesis, which is stimulated by ultrahigh CO 2 levels, may enhance secondary metabolite production.