Establishment of hairy root cultures of Datura stramonium. Characterization and stability of tropane alkaloid production during long periods of subculturing

The aim of this paper was the screening of the variability of growth patterns, biomass and tropane alkaloid production of 500 hairy root lines of Datura stramonium. Data on the long term stability in alkaloid production of these lines for more than 5 years are also provided. In an effort to obtain high alkaloid-producing root clones, it is demonstrated that systematic selection is necessary. Comparisons are made, mainly concerning alkaloid production and its stability, with normal root cultures initiated from the same mother plants when necessary. Hairy root cultures were found to have a hyoscyamine and scopolamine bioproductivity of 2 orders of magnitude higher than mother plants.