Repeated elicitation enhances phenylethanoid glycosides accumulation in cell suspension cultures of Cistanche deserticola

Effect of yeast elicitor on growth and phenylethanoid glycosides (PeGs) accumulation in Cistanche deserticola cell suspension cultures was investigated. Both biomass and PeGs production were enhanced by the addition of yeast elicitor. The dry weight of 9.0 g l−1 and PeGs production of 237.7 mg l−1 in 21-day cell cultures treated with 106 mg total sugar l−1 medium yeast elicitor for 3 days were achieved. Furthermore, a strategy of repeated addition of yeast elicitor was developed. Yeast elicitor repeatedly added on days 15, 17 and 19 at the dose of 106 mg total sugar l−1 medium improved PeGs accumulation further and the final PeGs production in the cell cultures of C. deserticola reached 317.8 mg l−1. The enhanced PeGs accumulation in C. deserticola cell suspension cultures was related to the increase of phenylalanine ammonium lyase activity stimulated by yeast elicitor.