Regulation of lycopene formation in cell suspension culture of VFNT tomato<i>(Lycopersicon esculentum)</i>by CPTA, growth regulators, sucrose, and temperature

Abstract

The onium compound 2–(4-chlorophenylthio)-triethylamine (CPTA) was used to increase lycopene formation to levels approximating those in field–or glasshousegrown fruit, and then growth regulators, sucrose and temperature were used to regulate lycopene accumulation. It was found that the native auxin indole–3– acetic acid (IAA) was substantially more effective than 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4–D) in promoting lycopene formation, sucrose inhibited lycopene formation (cell basis), and temperature produced a pattern similar to that observed in the field with a temperature optimum between 18 and 26 °C. Suggestions for further improvements in technique are included.