Improved production of galanthamine and related alkaloids by methyl jasmonate in Narcissus confusus shoot-clumps.

Liquid-shake cultured shoot-clumps of Narcisus confussus were treated with the commonly used biotic elicitors methyl jasmonate, arachidonic acid, chitosan and salicylic acid. The effects of these compounds on the growth of the explants, as well as on the amount of the alkaloids released to the liquid culture medium and accumulated in the tissues at the end of the experiment were studied. The obtained results showed that, in general, high doses of these compounds had a negative effect on the growth of the explants, particularly the salicylic acid. On the contrary, the addition of methyl jasmonate, mainly at 25 microM, promoted the release of galanthamine and other related alkaloids to the liquid medium in proportions of up to 300% in relation to the control explants, and also their accumulation in tissues. The other elicitors studied did not have any interesting effects on the production of these Amaryllidaceae-type alkaloids.