Evaluation of trigonelline production in Trigonella foenum-graecum hairy root cultures of two Iranian masses

Abstract The production of the trigonellin by hairy root cultures of Trigonella foenum was described in two Iranian masses (Zanjan and Borazjan). Different Agrobacterium rhizogenes strains (A4, 9126 and 15834) and infection methods (co-coltivated and injection) were tested to investigate the ability for transformation and production of trigonellin in T. foenum. PCR analysis using rolb gene was used for identification of transformed hairy roots. All the strains of A. rhizogenes used in this study were able to produce hairy roots. The transformation efficiency was %26 in injection method for whole plants. The higher growth index was obtained in hairy roots induced by 2 strains, 15834 and 9126, in Zanjan and Borazjan masses, respectively. Detection and identification of trigonellin for a 28 days period was carried out by high performance liquid chromatography method. The highest amounts of trigonellin in Borazjan and Zanjan hairy roots were 14.89 and 14.03 mM g -1 DW after 28 and 7 days, respectively. The selection of an effective A. rhizogenes strain and T. foenum genotype for the production of trigonellin in transformed root cultures is important. This successful production of trigonellin may be used as a useful system for comparative studies of production capacity of trigonellin in different genetic resources T. foenum