In vitro culture of plant cells e.g. for alkaloid prodn. - involving regeneration of mitotic cells under controlled environmental conditions to induce formation of embryonic cells

摘要

New procedure for inducing growth of a tumour capable of existence outside an organism comprises treatment of the growing point of a seedling with a first hormone having auxin activity and subsequent treatment of the same growing point with a second, different hormone having auxin activity. New procedure for germination of seeds involves provision of a sterile zone with a supply of distilled water and a narrow gauze tampon extending from the distilled water supply, a seed being placed so as to germinate on the gauze tampon distally to the distilled water supply, and the environmental conditions being controlled so that the seedling is subjected to alternating periods of light and dark. New procedure for effecting embryogenesis outside organic life-forms comprises regeneration of mitotic cells outside organic life-forms by means of a controlled environment so as to produce embryonal cells which are sepd. out so as to produce a embryos therefrom. New procedure for initiation of metabolic conditions which undergo alteration in free cell culture comprises establishing a free cell culture of mitotic cells, regeneration and differentiation of cells selected out under controlled environmental conditions, and modification of one or more of the factors prevailing in the environment in which the selection takes place. Used in vitro prodn. of plant metabolites under controlled conditions so as to give improved yields of such metabolites (e.g. alkaloids) and/or modifications in the metabolites produced.