Improving large-scale biomass and total alkaloid production of Dendrobium nobile Lindl. using a temporary immersion bioreactor system and MeJA elicitation

BACKGROUND: Dendrobium nobile Lindl. is an important pharmacopeial plant with medicinal and ornamental value. This study sought to provide a technical means for the large-scale production of total alkaloid in D. nobile. Seedlings were cultured in vitro using a temporary immersion bioreactor system (TIBS). The four tested immersion frequencies (min/h; 5/2, 5/4, 5/6, and 5/8) influenced the production of biomass and total alkaloid content. In addition, to compare the effects of different concentrations of the phytohormone methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and treatment time on biomass and total alkaloid accumulation, MeJA was added to the TIBS medium after 50 days. Finally, total alkaloid production in semi-solid system (SSS), TIBS, and TIBS combined with the MeJA system (TIBS-MeJA) were compared. RESULTS: The best immersion frequency was found to be 5/6 (5 min every 6 h), which ensured appropriate levels of biomass and total alkaloid content in plantlets. The alkaloid content and production level of seedlings were the highest after treatment with 10 μM MeJA separately for 20 and 30 days using TIBS. The maximum content (7.41 mg/g DW) and production level (361.24 mg/L) of total alkaloid on use of TIBS-MeJA were 2.32- and 4.69-fold, respectively, higher in terms of content, and 2.07- and 10.49-fold, respectively, higher in terms of production level than those on using of TIBS (3.20 mg/g DW, 174.34 mg/L) and SSS (1.58 mg/g DW, 34.44 mg/L). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show TIBS-MeJA is suitable for large-scale production of total alkaloid in in vitro seedlings. Therefore, this study provides a technical means for the large-scale production of total alkaloid in D. nobile.