Somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis in Narcissus poeticus var. recurvus (Haw.) Baker—relationship to alkaloid content

Amaryllidaceae plants are known for their ornamental value and the production of alkaloids with pharmacological properties. The aim of the research was to obtain, for the first time, in vitro cultures of Narcissus poeticus var. recurvus using the process of somatic embryogenesis and adventitious organogenesis from leaf and flower stem explants and to check their biosynthetic capacity. The medium supplemented with 25 µM 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram) and 5 µM benzyladenine (BA) stimulated the induction of embryogenic callus and the subsequent formation of somatic embryos from this callus. Scanning electron microscopy and histological analyses confirmed the presence of somatic embryos. Somatic embryos converted into plants on a medium with 0.5 µM α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 5 µM BA. The highest number of bulbs was formed on stem explants cultured on a medium containing 5 µM NAA and 5 µM BA or 5 µM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 5 µM BA while 25 µM NAA and 0.5 µM BA stimulated root formation. The chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis revealed the presence of galanthamine, 1,2-didehydrocrinan-3-ol, anhydrolycorine, crinine, pancracine, 11-hydroxyvittatine and lycorine in in vitro cultures. Alkaloid biosynthesis is closely related to tissue differentiation. Callus and somatic embryos did not produce galanthamine and accumulated small amounts of lycorine. The bulbs and plants showed the highest capacity for biosynthesis of these alkaloids. We provided the first report on somatic embryogenesis, adventitious organogenesis and Amaryllidaceae alkaloid biosynthesis in in vitro culture of Narcissus poeticus var. recurvus (Haw.) Baker.