tIn this study, we investigated the effects of different biotic and abiotic elicitors including yeast extract(YE), methyl jasmonate (MJ), AgNO3and sorbitol on biomass and production of cryptotanshinone andtanshinone IIA in adventitious roots cultures of Perovskia abrotanoides Karel. Elicitors had no significanteffect on root dry weight. The highest cryptotanshinone and tanshinone IIA production was achieved with200 mg/l YE and 25 M AgNO3, respectively. YE and AgNO3were the most effective elicitors to stimulatethe tanshinones production while the lowest concentration of MJ, only moderately promoted tanshinoneaccumulation. Sorbitol was almost ineffective in enhancing tanshinone content. Cryptotanshinone for-mation was stimulated more significantly by elicitation than tanshinone IIA. The results suggested thatelicitors have the ability to stimulate tanshinone content in adventitious roots culture of P. abrotanoides.

Keywords