Morphogenesis and Cardenolide Formation in Digitalis obscura Cultures

Summary Cardenolide formation was investigated in hypocotyl cultures of Digitalis obscura L. established on MS medium with growth regulators selected to promote either callus formation, caulogenesis, embryogenesis or rhizogenesis. Examination of the cardenolide composition of leaves from mature plants was also performed. Several compounds of series A and C were identified by HPLC in in vitro and in vivo grown tissues, no marked differences being found between their cardenolide patterns. RIA determinations showed that shoot- or embryo-forming calli accumulated significantly higher amounts of digoxigenin derivatives than undifferentiated or rhizogenic cultures. In any case, field plants prese…