The effect of growth retardants on anthocyanin production in carrot cell suspension cultures

The effect of growth retardants on anthocyanin production was studied in wild carrot (Daucus carota) cell suspension cultures. Paclobutrazol [(2RS,3RS) - 1 - (4-chlorophenyl) - 4,4 -dimethyl-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl) pentan-3-ol], uniconazole [(E)-1-(4-chlorophenyl-4,4 -) dimethyl-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1-penten-3-ol], tetcyclacis [5-(4-chloro-phenyl) -3,4,5,9,10-pentaaza-tetracyclo-5, 4, 10(2,6), O(8,11) - dodeca-3, 9-diene], ancymidol [α-cyclopropyl - 4 - methoxy-α(pyrimidine-5-yl)benzyl alcohol] and CCC (2-chloro-ethyltrimethylammonium chloride) increased anthocyanin accumulation. AMO-1618 [(2-isopropyl-5-methyl-4-trimethyl-ammonium-chloride)-phenyl-1-piperidinium carboxylate] did not increase anthocyanin accumulation in the first passage but did increase it during the second passage on medium for improved anthocyanin accumulation. Prohexadione (3,5-dioxo-4-propionylcyclohexane carboxylic acid) decreased anthocyanin accumulation by 10%-12.5%.The inhibitory effect of gibberellin on anthocyanin accumulation was reversed by paclobutrazol. Paclobutrazol together with 10(-6)M GA3 increased anthocyanin level from 33% of control in GA3 treated cell suspension to 76%. These results are consistent growth retardants increasing anthocyanin accumulation in carrot cell suspension cultures by inhibiting gibberellin biosynthesis.