Establishment of a callus induction system of Saxifraga stolonifera Meerb. and its response to different elicitors.

• Successfully established the callus induction system of Saxifraga stolonifera Meerb. • The best sterilization method of explants and the ratio of plant growth regulators for callus induction were selected. • SA and SNP could increase the content of secondary metabolites in callus. • This study has certain reference significance for the commercial production of Saxifraga stolonifera Meerb. Elicitation is a well-known strategy for increasing the accumulation of secondary metabolites in callus cultures. In this study, a callus induction system for Saxifraga stolonifera Meerb. was developed, and elicitors were used to enhance secondary metabolite production. Tender leaves of S. stolonifera were used as explants for in vitro culture. We examined callus induction characteristics of S. stolonifera and its response to various elicitors by assessing the sterilization conditions of the explants, varying hormone ratios, and determining the optimal concentrations of salicylic acid (SA), Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA). The results revealed that sterilizing the explants with 70% ethanol for 40 s, followed by 0.1% mercury chloride for 10 min, resulted in a survival rate of 82.22% during tissue culture. Following these sterilization methods, callus formation was successfully induced on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 2 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine and 0.15 mg/L naphthaleneacetic acid, achieving an induction rate of 88.88%. Additionally, the study identified SA as the most effective elicitor for increasing the levels of gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, and quercitrin in the callus, with optimal concentrations of salicylic acid being 60, 40, and 60 μM, respectively. SNP at 40 μM, 80 μM, and 20 μM concentrations was identified as the best elicitor for promoting the accumulation of bergenin, chlorogenic acid, and quercetin, respectively. This study established appropriate conditions for cultivating S. stolonifera callus and identified the optimal elicitor concentrations for maximizing secondary metabolite production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]