Effect of gamma rays and colchicine on silymarin production in cell suspension cultures of Silybum marianum: A transcriptomic study of key genes involved in the biosynthetic pathway

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate secondary metabolite production in Silybum marianum L. cell suspension cultures obtained from seeds treated with gamma rays (200 and 600 Gy) 0.05% colchicine. effects these treatments on callus induction, growth, viability, silymarin were studied, along the changes transcriptome DNA sequence chalcone synthase (CHS) genes. effect radiation S. dry also studied using HPLC-UV. All three induced high biomass leaf segments. viability over 90%. flavonolignan content measured extracellular culture medium highest after treatment 600 Gy, followed by colchicine, finally, 200 Gy, a growth period 12 days. In general, an increased expression CHS1, CHS2, CHS3 genes, accompanied increase content, observed response all treatments, although greatest CHS2 expression. Bioinformatics analysis confirmed that clones exhibited genetic variation, both relation each other CHS1 clones. Based results, plants previously exposed 600 200 Gy as well colchicine constitute renewable resource potential obtain large amounts silymarin.