Enhanced Taxol production in cell suspension cultures of hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) by combination of elicitor and precursor

The discovery of taxanes production in hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) and its cell cultures has generated considerable interest and hopes for studying and utilization of cell suspension culture of hazelnut as a biotechnological approach to the taxol production. In this research, the effects of plant growth regulators (different levels of 2,4-D, NAA, Kin and BAP) on hazelnut cell culture growth, and effects of elicitor (methyl jasmonate, chitosan and ultrasonund) and precursor (aminobenzoic acid and phenylalanine) combination on taxol production in cell suspension cultures were investigated. The results revealed that hazelnut cell growth in suspension cultures was significantly influenced by growth regulators treatments. Cell growth in MS medium containing 1 mg/l 2,4-D, 0.5 mg/l BAP and 150 mg/l ascorbic acid was significantly higher than other treatments. The cell growth and viability, EC and pH of medium and taxol production were significantly different between elicitor treatments. Overall, elicitor treatments inhibited cell proliferation but significantly increased the taxol production compared to the control (without elicitor). The highest taxol content (15.27 mg/l) was obtained with 2 min US and 20 mg/l aminobenzoic acid treatment in the cells derived from seed explants, which was about 132.78- fold of control.