Plant clonal lines and plants having elevated secondary metabolite levels

摘要

A method for selecting plants and plant tissue cultures that contain elevated levels of phenolic secondary metabolites is disclosed. The method uses clonal organogenic tissue culture lines, the cultures being derived from meristematic tissue of a member of the Lamiaceae family. Cultured tissue propagules are cultured in the presence of at least one compound that increases the flux through the proline biosynthesis and breakdown pathways. Those clonal lines exhibiting tolerance to the compound have elevated levels of phenolic secondary metabolites. Cultured tissue from such lines can be regenerated into plants, which are used to more efficiently produce essential oils for food and medicinal purposes.