Planta Med 2011; 77 - PB23
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1282277

Hairy roots induction in Nepeta crispa (Lamiaceae) from Iran by using Agrobacreium rhizogenes

P Habibi 1, K Piri 1, P Ostadahmadi 1, Y Ahmadi Moghadam 1
  • 1Department of Faculty of Agriculture Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran

Nepeta crispa Willd. (Lamiaceae) is an aromatic endemic plant of Iran. This plant with the common local name Mofarrah has been of great interest to Iranian traditional medicine. Infusion and beverage obtained from the aerial parts of N. crispa were used traditionally as sedative, relaxant, carminative, restorative tonic for nervous and respiratory disorders. N. crispa has antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi. The main constituents were 1,8-cineole (47.9%), 4-aα,7α,7aβ-nepetalactone (20.3%), α-pinene (5%) and β-terpineol (4.1%). Agrobacterium rhizogenes causes hairy root disease in plants. The neoplastic (cancerous) roots produced by A. rhizogenes infection are characterized by high growth rate, genetic stability and growth in hormone free media. Hairy root cultures offer promise for high production and productivity of valuable secondary metabolites (used as pharmaceuticals, pigments and flavors) in many plants. Hairy roots were induced from cotyledon explants excised from seven day old aseptically grown seedlings of N.crispa using Agrobacterium rhizogenes 15834. The cefotaxime concentration of 250 mgL-1 was found to be most suitable for hairy root induction in N.crispa.To confirm transformation, PCR analysis was performed by using of specific primers for rol B gene amplification. Results of PCR analysis showed the presence of diagnostic 780 bp rol B product amplification and thus confirmed the transformation of hairy roots. This is the first report on the induction of hairy roots in N.crispa.

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