Screening of Crocus sativus L. Callus Lines for Crocin Production

Induction conditions of Crocus sativus L. callus were optimized. MS medium was optimalfor shoot callus induction while B5 medium was optimal for leaf and flower callus induction. 18℃, 25℃ and 21℃ were the optimal temperature for callus induction of shoot, leaf and flower, respectively.Light was positive factor for leaf callus induction but negative for shoot and flower induction.Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA, 1.5-2.0 mg.L-1) and 6-benzyladenine (6-BA, 0.25 mg.L-1) were theoptimal hormones for callus induction. Under the optimized conditions, the induction rate reached60% for shoot callus, 80% for leaf callus, and 35% for flower callus. Using eyesight and HPLCmethods, one callus line which gave rise to 1 677 mg.g-1 crocin and would not brown was obtainedfrom 229 callus lines.