Effects of yeast extract on growth, biochemical properties and production of secondary metabolites in in vitro cultures of Vaccinium arctostaphylos L.

Vaccinium arctostaphylos L., belonging to the Ericaceae family, is an important medicinal plant, which its leaves and fruits are widely used to treat high blood pressure and diabetes diseases. Advances in plant cell and tissue culture techniques have increased the utility of plants as a renewable resource for valuable compounds. This study was performed to investigate the effect of yeast extract on the growth of nodal explants, biochemical characteristics and the amount of secondary metabolites under in vitro cultures of Whortleberry (Vaccinium arctostaphylos L.). The surface sterilized explants were cultured on MS medium containing different treatments including control (without plant growth regulators), 2 mg/ L BAP, 0.1 mg/ L IBA and yeast extract (concentrations of 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/L). The utilization of yeast extract in concentrations of 500 to 2000 mg/L did not have a positive effect on the number of leaves per explant and survival rate of explants, but, significantly decreased the shoot growth from the explants. HPLC analysis showed that utilization of 1000 mg/L yeast extract significantly increased the amount of rutin in leaves of Vaccinium arctostaphylos in vitro cultures. So, the highest amount of rutin (130.95 mg/L) was obtained in the MS medium containing 2 mg/L BAP+ 0.1 mg/L IBA + 100 mg/L yeast extract, which was 2.7 times higher than that of control. Yeast extract had no significant effect on the amount of quercetin. Therefore, according to the results of this study, yeast extract stimulant can be used to increase the routine production in V. arctostaphylos cultures.