A Novel Medium for Enhancing Callus Growth of Hazel (Corylus avellana L.)

Paclitaxel is a powerful antimitotic agent with excellent activity against a range of cancers. Hazel has been described as a paclitaxel-producing species among angiosperms. Fast-growing callus is a prerequisite for the success of callus production and then paclitaxel production. Therefore, optimizing the medium culture for enhancing callus growth is a crucial step for paclitaxel production. In this research, Murashige and Skoog (1962) (MS) medium was optimized for improving callus growth of hazel (Corylus avellana L.). The M(10) medium (MS medium with pH 6.0 and supplemented with 1000 mg l(−1) spirulina powder, 1000 mg l(−1) casein hydrolysate and 3 g l(−1) gelrite) significantly improved hazel callus growth. This modified MS medium increased callus fresh weight (55.8%) as compared to the control. M(10) medium increased fatty acids yield of callus (66.7%) as compared to the control. Liquid M(10) medium maintained growth over a longer period of time and also increased slightly, the paclitaxel production as compared to the control. This novel medium is promising for facilitating the mass production of hazel callus as a source of valuable metabolites including paclitaxel, linoleic and oleic acids.