Antifungal monoterpene production in elicited cell suspension cultures of Piqueria trinervia.

Cell suspension cultures of the traditional medicinal plant Piqueria trinervia Cav., which synthesizes monoterpene piquerol A, were established. A defense response was induced in the cultures when eight homogenized fungi isolated from wild populations of P. trinervia were added. Piquerol A was not produced in the elicited system, while four other substances were synthesized de novo. They were excreted into the medium and inhibited in vitro fungal growth. The most abundant substance produced in this system was a new monoterpene: 2-methylene-7,7-dimethylbicyclo (3,3,1) heptane-4,6-diol. Monoterpenes in the cell suspension culture reported here were produced via two metabolic channels: the first acted constitutively and expressed in liquid and solid cultures, the second is inducible in response to several pathogens and elicitor substances.