Abstract

In the present investigation hairy roots were formed in Gloriosa superba Linn. from wounded regions of leaf and callus explants. Each type of infection of Agrobacterium rhizogenes and wounding method showed unique pattern of hairy root induction with varying percentage of transformation frequency. Infection of leaf explants by manual wounding resulted in induction of hairy roots originating from the mid vein region. However, acetosyringone treatments resulted in induction of hairy roots from all over the surface of the leaf and callus explants. Persisting A. rhizogenes contamination was eliminated by frequent subcultures on medium containing antibiotics. Culturing the hairy root samples in LB medium did not show the bacterial growth indicating the absence of live A. rhizogenes. The hairy roots of G. superba when analysed examined for the colchicine alkaloid showed significant increase in the amount of colchicine as compared to normal callus cultures and the various plant parts. The amount of colchicine increased to 28.64mg/gdw in hairy root culture, which is quite high in comparison to the highest quantity, reported in 6-week old normal callus tissue (22.6 mg/gdw).

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