The effects of low phosphorus concentration in MS medium on callus growth and reserpine production of pule pandak Rauvolfia verticillata in vitro

Abstract

Abstract. Supatmi, Solichatun, Anggarwulan E. 2007. The effects of low phosphorus concentration in MS medium on callus growth and reserpine production of pule pandak Rauvolfia verticillata in vitro. Biofarmasi 5: 16-25. This research aimed to determine the effects of low phosphorus concentration in MS medium on callus growth and reserpine production of pule pandak [Rauvolfia verticillata (Lour.) Baillon]. This research frame is based on the potency of R. verticillata as antihypertension. The phosphorus concentration on the callus growth medium would inhibit the callus growth. It also had effects on the synthesis of tryptophan amino acids. Tryptophan would produce tryptamine as a strictosidine synthase substrate. Strictosidine synthase was an enzyme that activated the reserpine production. The research used a completely randomized design with one factor, phosphorus concentration (KH₂PO₄) in 5 replicates, i.e., 0, 42.5, 85, 127.5 and 170 (control) mg/L. The parameters of this research included callus growth (fresh weight and dry weight), morphology (texture and color) callus, and the content of reserpine (mg/gram) in R. verticillata callus. Quantitative data (fresh weight, dry weight, and reserpine content) were analyzed using variance analysis (ANOVA) followed by DMRT at the confidence level of 5%. The result of this research indicated that the low phosphorus concentration (KH₂PO₄) in the MS medium affected callus growth and reserpine production of R. verticillata. The highest fresh weight and dry weight of callus R. verticillata were obtained on replicate 85 mg/L phosphorus concentration, whereas the lowest fresh weight was obtained on 0 mg/L and the lowest dry weight on 42.5 mg/L. The reserpine production under the phosphorus standard of MS medium produced the highest reserpine on R. verticillata callus. The highest reserpine production was obtained on replicate 127.5 mg/L phosphorus concentration, whereas the lowest reserpine production was obtained on 42.5 mg/L.