Production of alkaloids by in vitro culture of Erythrina americana Miller.

The production of erythroidines and other alkaloids was studied in cotyledons, callus and cell suspension cultures of Erythrina americana Miller. The cell suspension cultures, grown in Murashige & Skoog medium with naphthaleneacetic acid (3 mg l(-1)) and kinetin (2 mg l(-1)), produced 89 and 17 microg alpha- and beta-erythroidines respectively per g dry wt.