Occurrence of (-)-G eosm in and Other Terpenoids in an Axenic Culture of the Liverwort Symphyogyna brongniartii

An axenic culture o f Symphyogyna brongniartii has been initiated from spores on modified Benecke medium. Growth was best on Gamborg B5 medium with 0.3% sucrose, with a doubling time o f 36 days. The culture produced the same terpenoids as plants growing in their natural habitat, perrottetianal A being the major constituent. Also found were bicyclogermacrene, ß-barbatene, 8-selinene, ß-cubebene, spathulenol, and (-)-geosm in. The latter compound was hitherto only known from microorganisms. Synthesis rate o f terpenoids during the passage period and quantitative differences in terpenoid production on different mineral media were investigated.