PRELIMINARY STUDY OF THE INDICAN PRODUCTION IN TISSUE CULTURES OF Indigofera suffruticosa MILL.

Hypocotyl explants of Indigofera suffruticosa Mill were cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with various concentrations of 6-benzyladenine or kinetin combined with different levels of 2,4-Diclorofenoxiacetic acid, to induce callus formation and indigo production. No calluses were obtained when growth regulators were used individually. The callus with the best morphological and growth characteristics were obtained with the combination of 2.26 ¿M and 4.44 ¿M of 2,4- Diclorofenoxiacetic acid and 6-benzyladenine, respectively. 6-benzyladenine proved to be better than kinetin to induce callus formation. All obtained callus showed indican accumulation.The combination of 2.26¿M 2,4-Diclorofenoxiacetic acid and 0.44 ¿M 6-benzyladenine, or 0.46 ¿M kinetin gave the highest indican concentration (16.27 mg g-1 dry weight).