Enhancement of anthocyanin production in in vitro cultures of carrot (Daucus carota).

The effect of Methyl jasmonate (MJ), Salicylic acid (SA), Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and
Sucrose (SU) on the anthocyanin accumulation, phenolic content, carotenoid content, flavonoid
content and expression of anthocyanin biosynthesis genes in callus cultures of Daucus carota
were studied. MJ, SA, SNP and SU were found to stimulate the anthocyanin production in the
callus cultures. The highest level of anthocyanin was observed in the cultures treated with 10 μM
SNP (3.36 mg/100 g FW), and 10μM SNP combined 7.5 % SU (3.71 mg/100 g FW). The
treatment of callus cultures with SA and MJ was found to result in marginally higher
anthocyanin than the control. SNP treatment was found to result in higher level of phenolic and
flavonoids compared to other treatments. The carotenoid content in callus cultures treated with
SNP was lower in 3rd week after inoculation. The expression of phenylalanine ammonia lyase
(PAL), flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H) and leucoanthocyanidin dioxyginase (LDOX) genes were
found to result in up regulation in SNP treated callus compare to other treatments. These results
suggest that the stimulation of anthocyanin production by SNP in callus cultures of carrot were
best compared to MJ and SA.