The procedures for callus induction and plant regeneration from tissues and callus of Carthamus tinctorius Linn. Cv. Manjira were studied and developed. The optimal conditions for callus induction and plant regeneration were observed when transversely cut-upper part of 14 days old cotyledons were previously incubated for 2 weeks in the dark on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l NAA, 0.5 mg/l BA and 2.0 %(w/v) sucrose. Addition of 1.65 g/l NH4NO3 could facilitate shoot formation from cultured cotyledon callus. The presence of AgNO3 (3.0 mg/l) or CoCl2 (5.0 mg/l) in MS medium supplemented with optimal plant growth regulators also enhanced the yield of shoot formation. Root induction was occurred on full-strength MS medium without plant growth regulators. Total lipid and fatty acid compositions of Carthamus tinctorius Linn. Tissues and callus were also studied and analysed by gas chromatography (GC). Palmitic acid (Cl6:0), stearic acid (Cl8:0), oleic acid (Cl8:1) and linoleic acid (Cl8:2) were detected in the developmental stages of natural explants and callus tissues. Furthermore, the total lipid contents of explants were remarkably high in seeds and gradually decreased in cotyledon explant. The main fatty acid components found in natural explants were unsaturated fatty acids (Cl8:1 and Cl8:2) which were higher than that of saturated fatty acids (Cl6:0 and Cl8:0). The growth rate of dark grown cotyledon callus was higher than that of light grown callus. Maximum content of total lipid was observed at the second weeks of culture. The main fatty acids found in both type of calli were palmitic acid (Cl6:0) and stearic acid (Cl8:0). MS medium supplemented with 2,4-D or NAA at 0.5 mg/l in combination with AB or Kn in MS medium yielded higher content of total lipid than that with other auxins. The highest level of palmitic acid (Cl6:0) was detected in callus grown in MS medium containing NAA plus BA while the highest level of linoleic acid (Cl8:2) was detected in the medium having 2,4-D plus Kn. Carthamus tinctorius Linn. Cotyledon callus cultured on the medium containing 20 g/l sucrose yielded the highest content of total lipids with palmitic acid (Cl6:0) as the major saturated fatty acid.
