BIOSYNTHESIS AND ACCUMULATION OF SAPONINS IN GYPSOPHILA-PANICULATA

Gypsophila paniculata was examined by chemical and histological means in order to identify the exact sites of biosynthesis and accumulation of gypsogenin-saponins. This was compared to the biosynthetic sterol behaviour. The distribution of radioactivity suggests that saponins are biosynthesized only in the roots and are not translocated to the shoot, whereas sterols are biosynthesized mainly in the leaves but also in the other plant parts. In G. paniculata roots the saponins are especially accumulated in the secondary phloem where they reach about 4% dry wt in the fourth year (expressed as their prosaponin, gypsogenin 3, O-glucuronide).