Tropane alkaloid production in cultured cells of Duboisia leichhardtii

Calluses were derived from explants of aerial parts of a Duboisia leichhardtii F. Muell. plant. After 3 months of culture we detected small amounts of hyoscyamine and scopolamine in the unorganized calluses, but the amounts decreased until they were undetectable with successive subculture. When shoots were produced from the unorganized calluses, the ability to convert hyoscyamine added into media to scopolamine appeared; when roots were initiated from the shoot-organizing calluses, hyoscyamine, scoporamine, and nicotine were synthesized. Cultured adventitious roots produced these alkaloids and converted exogenous hyoscyamine to scopolamine.