Objective: To establish transformation system and obtain alkaloids from the hairy root of Catharanthus roseus.
Method: Hairy roots were obtained by infecting the different explants of C. roseus. Culture conditions of hairy root were optimized.
Result: The best transformation condition was leaf infected by two-day's pre-culture and two-day's co-culture and additional A(S) (hydroxyacetosyringone) 100 mg x L(-1). The inducing rate of hairy root was up to 86.25%. The best condition of hairy root culture was MS medium with sucrose as carbon material and lactalbumin as nitron material. The analysis result showed that the contents of total alkaloids in hairy roots were higher than explants and calli.
Conclusion: Hairy root of C. roseus will be useful for the production of active components in C. roseus.