Selection of Cultured Mirabilis jalapa L. Cell Strains Producing High Levels of Anti-plant-viral Protein

Abstract

Mirabilis jalapa cell strains producing high levels of anti-plant-viral protein (MAP) were selected. The MAP content of the strain H9-52 obtained in the 9th selection was 6.3mg/g dry wt. which was about 3 times that of the root and was about 20 times that of the original cells. The ratio of MAP to total soluble protein also increased from 0.3% in the original cells to 6.5% in the strain H8-50 obtained in the 8th selection. MAP was isolated from the strain H8-50 and its anti-plant-viral activity was the same level as that of the root. The MAP productivity of strain H8-50 was maintained during 14 successive subculturings.