The Essential Oil of Coleonema album (Rutaceae) and of a Photomixotrophic Cell Culture Derived thereof

Abstract

Abstract The volatile shoot oil of Coleonema album was found to be composed of monoterpenes, ses­quiterpenes and phenylpropanoids. Heterotrophic and photom ixotrophic callus cultures were established from green parts of the plant. A photom ixotrophic cell line contained a heteroge­neous population of plastids and synthesized an essential oil, which differed qualitatively and quantitatively from the green parts of the intact plant. Substitution of 2,4-D and pCPA by a lower amount of NAA and high kinetin concentrations favoured the formation of essential oil. The heterotrophic callus, when grown on the same nutrient medium, was devoid of any differ­ entiated plastids and of essential oil constituents. Thus, a close correlation of light-induced plastid differentiation and essential oil synthesis was concluded.