A Novel Medium for Enhancing Callus Growth of Hazel (Corylus avellana L.)

Paclitaxel is a powerful antimitotic agent with excellent activity against a range of cancers. Hazel has been described as a paclitaxel-producing species among angiosperms. Fast-growing callus is a prerequisite for the success of callus production and then paclitaxel production. Therefore, optimizing the medium culture for enhancing callus growth is a crucial step for paclitaxel production. In this research, Murashige and Skoog (1962) (MS) medium was optimized for improving callus growth of hazel (Corylus avellanaL.). The M10medium (MS medium with pH 6.0 and supplemented with 1000 mg l−1spirulina powder, 1000 mg l−1casein hydrolysate and 3 g l−1gelrite) significantly improved hazel callus growth. This modified MS medium increased callus fresh weight (55.8%) as compared to the control. M10medium increased fatty acids yield of callus (66.7%) as compared to the control. Liquid M10medium maintained growth over a longer period of time and also increased slightly, the paclitaxel production as compared to the control. This novel medium is promising for facilitating the mass production of hazel callus as a source of valuable metabolites including paclitaxel, linoleic and oleic acids.