USE OF AUXIN AND CYTOKININ TO REGULATE ANTHOCYANIN PRODUCTION AND COMPOSITION IN SUSPENSION-CULTURES OF STRAWBERRY CELL

The effect of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and benzyladenine (BA) on the production of anthocyanin and its compositions in suspension callus culture of the leaf tissue from the strawberry (Fragaria ananassa cv Shikinari) were investigated. In order to determine the optimum anthocyanin production in suspension cultures, the effects of cell inoculum size on cell growth and anthocyanin accumultation were also studied. Maximum anthocyanin production was obtained in cultures about 2 weeks old using an inoculum cell size of 2 g. In the early phase of culturing, 2,4-D stimulated cell growth and impaired anthocyanin accumulation. Approximately 207 mu g g(-1) cell of anthocyanins was obtained without the need to add phytohormones to the Linsmaier and Skoog (LS) liquid medium to a culture 1 week old, however, greater anthocyanin yield was obtained when 2,4-D in amounts of more than 0.5 mg litre-1 was added to the LS medium of 2-week-old strawberry cultures. The content of two major anthocyanins, cyanidin-3-glucoside and peonidin-3-glucoside, were influenced by 2,4-D and BA. The content of cyanidin-3-glucoside increased as the both 2,4-D and BA concentrations rose, and the content when concentrations of 2,4-D and BA are each 1 mg litre(-1) was almost seven times greater than that when no phytohormones were added.