The content of phenolic compounds and flavonoids in in vitro plants and tissue culture of Deschampsia antarctica E. Desv.

Aim. The aim of the study was a comparative assessment of total phenolic content and total flavonoid content in in vitro plants, regenerated plants, plants grown in a growth chamber, and tissue culture of several genotypes of Deschampsia antarctica. Methods. In vitro culture, Folin-Ciocalteu method, spectrophotometry, high-performance liquid chromatography. Results. The total content of phenolic compounds and total flavonoid content was determined in the samples of three D. antarctica genotypes: G/D12-2a (2n=26), DAR12 (2n=26+0–3B) and Y66 (2n=36–39). The content of these biologically active compounds was the highest in in vitro plants and it was higher than in plants grown in a growth chamber. The highest content of BAC was found in DAR12 in vitro plants (16.50 mg of ferulic acid equivalent and 21.26 mg of rutin equivalent per g of dry weight, respectively). The regenerated plants did not differ significantly in the content of BAC from the original in vitro plants. In tissue culture, the content of BAC was lesser. One- and two-year-old tissue cultures did not differ significantly in the content of phenolic compounds and flavonoids. Conclusions. The relatively high content of phenolic compounds and flavonoids in in vitro plants and in regenerated plants indicates that in vitro cultivated D. antarctica plants can be a promising raw material for production of valuable BACs. Keywords: Deschampsia antarctica E. Desv., in vitro plants, plant tissue culture, phenolic compounds, flavonoids.