OBJECTIVETo establish the hair roots culture system of Datura metel and study the hair roots growth and biosynthesis of scopolamine and hyoscyamine in hair roots culturing system.

METHODDirect degermed cotyledon of wild D. metel was infected by Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain C58C1 to obtain hair roots. Growth curves and scopolamine and hyoscyamine biosynthesis curves were determined. The scopolamine and hyoscyamine from different hair roots lines were examined by HPLC.

RESULTHair roots induction rate reached 70%. After 25 days cultured in 1/2 MS liquid nutrient medium, the hair roots weight, content of scopolamine and hyoscyamine reached maximum, tow high efficient accumulation hyoscyamine and scopolamine hair roots lines M1 and M2 were obtained. The medial accumulation coefficient of hyoscyamine and scopolamine were 2.53 times and 5.37 times compared with the leaves of wild D. metel respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe established hair roots induction and culture system of D. metel provided a foundation for further obtaining scopolamine and hyoscyamine.