CULTURE ENVIRONMENT AND STATE OF REVERSAL IN FATTY-ACID PROPORTION IN CULTURED-TISSUES OF SAFFLOWER (CARTHAMUS-TINCTORIUS L)

Callus cultures of cotyledonary and leafy origin were analysed for relative oil content and degree of unsaturation in fatty acid profiles of Carthamus tinctorius L. cv. co-1. Four test formulations (O-0-O-4) supplemented with various energy levels and growth promoting organic additives were made in combinations onto semi-gelled MS basal medium (MURASHIGE and SKOOG, 1962). A differential rate of oil accumulating potential in each tissue type was observed vis-a-vis increase or decrease in degree of desaturation in fatty acid profiles (C-16-C-18:C-9-C-15). Studies indicated that leafy tissues had more oil percentage with a greater degree of stability in desaturation predominantly of oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids in their storage lipid fractions while cotyledonary tissues had a fast trend towards reversal of fatty acids constituents. Presence of extra level of sucrose in medium (4% w/v) induced the formation of more UFA in both tissue types. The cell behaviour during the present study led to an idea that leafy cultures have an extra potential for unsaturation both in control and in treated cells. The possibility of screening of cultured cells of diverse origin for production of oil variants has also been discussed.