Ultrasound-potentiated salicylic acid-induced physiological effects and production of taxol in hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) cell culture.

Effects of ultrasound (US), salicylic acid (SA) and their combined use on the growth and secondary metabolite production of suspension-cultured Corylus avellana cells were investigated. The cultures were treated with US (40 kHz) for short periods of time (2, 3, 5 and 10 min) and SA (25 and 50 mg L(-1)). Results showed that although phenolic content of the cells was significantly increased under exposure to treatments, flavonoids content significantly decreased. Taxol biosynthesis was improved by all treatments. US exposure increased the extracellular, cell-associated and total taxol yield three-, 1.6-, and two-fold compared with that of the control, respectively. SA at all levels was more effective than US in stimulating cell-associated and total taxol production. Combined treatment of US and SA at 50 mg L(-1) resulted in the most improvement in total taxol production, which was about seven times higher than that of the US, three times higher than that of the SA and 14 times higher than that of the control. The results suggest a synergism between US and SA in enhancing taxol production by hazelnut cells.