A STUDY ON THE GROWTH AND CAPSAICINOID BIOSYNTHESIS OF CHILLI PEPPER (CAPSICUM SP.) CELL SUSPENSION CULTURE

Abstract

The callus from chilli pepper cotyledons initiated in the dark, on MS medium with saccharose 30 g/l, 2,4-D 2,5 mg/l and kinetin 0,5 mg/l. This callus was light yellow to brown and friable. 3 g of six-week-old callus was inoculated into 40 ml of MS liquid medium to make cell suspension cultures. Chilli pepper cell suspension cultures grew well in MS medium with saccharose 30 g/l, 2,4-D 3,0 mg/l and kinetin 0,5 mg/l, in the dark, on rotary shaker (100 rpm). Salicylic acid, phenylalanine and valine were used to promote the capsaicinoid biosynthesis pathway. However, the presence of these factors loosed the growth of cell suspension cultures. The combination of salicylic acid 30 mg/l, phenylalanine 10 mg/l and valine 30 mg/l increased capsaicinoid concentration and the growth of cell suspension culture.