Impact of symbiotic fungi on Production of secondary metabolites by Plant Cell Culture

* Author for correspondence: Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi-110016, India. Tel: 91-11-26591707, Fax: 91-11-26582286, Email: vbisaria@dbeb. iitd.ac.in. Abstract. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are widespread and the most ancient symbiosis in the world. However, because of the absence of authentic pure cultures, commercial production is the major problem in the use and application of mycorrhizal biotechnology. Piriformospora indica and Sebacina vermifera are newly described axenically cultivable phytopromotional endosymbionts that mimic the capability of AMF. They are revolutionary plant growth promoting fungi. The biggest advantage with these fungi is that unlike AMF, they can be easily grown on a synthetic medium, having simple nutritional requirements. The effect of these two fungi on production of podophyllotoxin (a precursor of anticancer drug) and related lignans, in cell cultures of Linum album Kotschy ex Bioss, family Linaceae, was studied. The addition of culture filtrates of these two fungi as well as cocultivation of these two fungi with L. album exhibited a significant stimulatory influence on synthesis of podophyllotoxin.