The Essential Oil of Coleonema album (Rutaceae) and of a Photomixotrophic Cell Culture Derived thereof

The volatile shoot oil o f Coleonema album was found to be composed o f monoterpenes, ses­ quiterpenes and phenylpropanoids. Heterotrophic and photomixotrophic callus cultures were established from green parts o f the plant. A photomixotrophic cell line contained a heteroge­ neous population o f plastids and synthesized an essential oil, which differed qualitatively and quantitatively from the green parts o f the intact plant. Substitution o f 2,4-D and pCPA by a lower amount o f N A A and high kinetin concentrations favoured the formation o f essential oil. The heterotrophic callus, when grown on the same nutrient medium, was devoid o f any differ­ entiated plastids and o f essential oil constituents. Thus, a close correlation o f light-induced plastid differentiation and essential oil synthesis was