Prospects of in vitro production of thebaine in opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.)

Abstract A variant plant of opium poppy ( Papaver somniferum L.) having high thebaine was obtained from the dose of 10 kR (kilo rad) + 0.4% EMS during an extensive mutation breeding experiment. The M 2 seeds of variant plant were subjected to in vitro studies to investigate the prospects of thebaine production through tissue culture. Alkaloid profile of variant showed higher thebaine in stem followed by leaf callus, stem callus and cotyledons. Such a high content of thebaine from tissue raised plant material opens a new vista for the extraction of thebaine at commercial level. A comparison was also made between in vivo and in vitro cost of production and extraction of thebaine.