Impact of light quality and sucrose on adventitious shoot regeneration and bioactive compound accumulation in Ajuga multiflora Bunge

Influence of light quality and sucrose concentration on the adventitious shoot regeneration and bioactive compounds contents in shoot cultures of A. multiflora were investigated. The highest number of shoot buds (34.8) per leaf was obtained in shoot induction medium supplemented with 2% sucrose under white fluorescent light (WFL). The highest mean of 13.7 shoots per explant and shoot length (6.4 cm) were obtained on medium exposed to the red light emitting diodes (LED). Shoots grown on MS medium incorporated with 3% sucrose under WFL had significantly higher all-E-lutein (193.7 μg g−1 F.W.) than those cultured on medium with 1% sucrose under red LED. The maximum content of total carotenoids was achieved in shoots grown on MS medium with 3% sucrose under WFL, while the lowest content of total carotenoids was obtained in shoots cultured on MS medium containing 1% sucrose under blue LED. The highest amount of tocopherol in shoot tissues of A. multiflora was α- tocopherol (87.3 μg g−1 F.W.) followed by γ-tocopherol (66.5 μg g−1 F.W.) and δ- tocopherol (53.2 μg g−1 F.W.). The highest content of total tocopherol was achieved in shoots cultured on MS medium with 3% sucrose under WFL, while the lowest content of total tocopherol was obtained in shoots cultured on MS medium containing 1% sucrose under red LED.