A Novel Medium for Enhancing Callus Growth of Hazel (Corylus avellana L.)

Paclitaxel is a powerful antimitotic agent with excellent activity against a range of cancers. Hazel has been described as a paclitaxel-producing species among angiosperms. Fast-growing callus is a prerequisite for the success of callus production and then paclitaxel production. Therefore, optimizing the medium culture for enhancing callus growth is a crucial step for paclitaxel production. In this research, Murashige and Skoog (1962) (MS) medium was optimized for improving callus growth of hazel (Corylus avellana L.). The M₁₀ medium (MS medium with pH 6.0 and supplemented with 1000 mg l^-1 spirulina powder, 1000 mg l^-1 casein hydrolysate and 3 g l^-1 gelrite) significantly improved hazel callus growth. This modified MS medium increased callus fresh weight (55.8%) as compared to the control. M₁₀ medium increased fatty acids yield of callus (66.7%) as compared to the control. Liquid M₁₀ medium maintained growth over a longer period of time and also increased slightly, the paclitaxel production as compared to the control. This novel medium is promising for facilitating the mass production of hazel callus as a source of valuable metabolites including paclitaxel, linoleic and oleic acids.