Enhanced Eugenol Production in Eryngium campestre L. and Eryngium caucasicum Trautv. via Agrobacterium rhizogenes-Induced Hairy Roots

Eryngium, an edible and medicinal plant from the Apiaceae family native to northern Iran, is traditionally used to treat inflammation, hypertension, and diabetes. This study investigated the effect of plant species, explant type and bacterial strain on hairy root induction of Eryngium campestre and Eryngium caucasicum via Rhizobium rhizogenes (formerly: Agrobacterium rhizogenes). Leaf, hypocotyl, and cotyledon explants were inoculated with A. rhizogenes (A۴, ATCC-۱۵۸۳۴ and R۳۱۸ strains). The transformation frequency and the number of roots generated per explant were recorded. The transformation of hairy roots was verified through PCR using gene-specific primers for rolB and rolC. The highest hairy root induction rate (۶۵.۸%) was obtained with the ATCC-۱۵۸۳۴ strain inoculated on the hypocotyls of E. campestre. The shortest time for root induction (۷.۵ days) was also observed in E. campestre. A high level of eugenol production in hairy roots induced by strain R۳۱۸ in E. caucasicum shows that this strain has a significant potential to optimize secondary metabolite production in this species. HPLC analysis of the transgenic roots in both Eryngium species showed that the resulting hairy roots contained a significant amount of eugenol.  By transferring desirable genes to these two plant species, the resulting hairy roots contain a significant amount of eugenol. Based on these results, this technique offers an effective, genetically stable, and sustainable alternative to conventional extraction or chemical synthesis methods for large-scale production of eugenol-rich secondary metabolites.

کلیدواژه ها:

Apiaceae ، medicinal plant ، secondary metabolite ، transgenic ، Rhizobium rhizogenes