Production of chrysanthemic acid and pyrethrins by tissue cultures ofChrysanthemum cinerariaefolium.

Tissue cultures ofChrysanthemum cinerariaefolium were established, and then used to study the production of pyrethrin insecticides, and their precursor chrysanthemic acid. Callus cultures and root-differentiated cultures did not contain pyrethrins whereas shoot differentiated callus was found to produce the pyrethrins. Chrysanthemic acid was isolated by extraction from callus cultures, and feeding(14)C-labelled chrysanthemic acid to a cell suspension ofC. cinerariaefolium established that the acid accumulates largely as a glucoside ester.