Effect of Triacontanol on Plant Cell Cultures in Vitro

Triacontanol [CH 3 (CH 2 ) 28 CH 2 OH] increased growth in vitro of cell cultures of haploid tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum ). The fresh weight of cell cultures of tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum ), potato ( Solanum tuberosum ), bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris ), and barley ( Hordeum vulgare x H. jubatum ) was also increased. The increase in growth of tobacco callus seems to have been due to an increase in cell number. Another long chain alcohol, octocosanol [CH 3 (CH 2 ) 26 CH 2 OH], did not increase the growth of tobacco cell cultures.