Transformation of opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) with Agrobacterium rhizogenes MAFF 03-01724

Transformed cultures of opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) were established by infecting hypocotyl segments with Agrobacterium rhizogenes MAFF 03-01724. Undifferentiated calli formed on the infected site grew satisfactorily on phytohormone-free solid medium in the dark and produced opine, mikimopine, which could not be detected in a normal culture. Numerous adventitious shoots developed from transformed calli during subculture. The transformed shoots separated individually were cultured on phytohormone-free MS solid medium at 22 ° C under 14 h/day light. They displayed wider leaves and longer internodes than shoots established from seeds or non-transformed root culture. The content of morphinan alkaloids in the cultures and regenerated shoots were quantitatively analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and high performance liquid chromatography. HPLC analysis revealed that non-transformed shoots contained much more codeine (1310 gmg/g dry wt.) than morphine (50 μg/g dry wt.), while the transformed shoot cultures did not contain morphine, although the level of morphinan alkaloids in the transformed shoots (213 μg morphine equivalents/g fr. wt.) was comparable to that in non-transformed shoots (182 μg morphine equivalents/g fr. wt.) by ELISA.