INNOVATIVE METHODS FOR OBTAINING THE CALLUS CULTURE OF THE YACON <i>SMALLANTHUS SONCHIFOLIUS</i>
The focus of the current research, carried out in stationary conditions at the Gorsky SAU at the department of Biotechnology and Standardization, has been to obtain in vitro callus culture of the yacтn (Smallanthus sonchifolius), which is valuable as a source of biologically active compounds. The purpose of this study has been to develop innovative methods for getting biologically active substances based on the culture of plant cells of the yacтn (Smallanthus sonchifolius). An innovative method to gain biologically active substances is the culture of plant cells and tissues, and biological technologies are capable of optimizing the process of receiving biologically active substances of plant origin, based on the in vitro cultivation methodology. In plant organisms, there tends to take place a synthesis of the main classes of compounds, i.e. carbohydrates, proteins, fats, which contemporaneously form secondary metabolites, macro- and microelements that have a significant effect on the human body. In various plant organs, i.e. the roots and tubers of the yacoМn (Smallanthus sonchifolius) contain a large amount of spare carbohydrates, which include inulin. Inulin is found in various plants, where its content comes close to 50% of the dry matter content. Inulin cannot be broken down by digestive enzymes and belongs to the group of dietary fibers and is also a prebiotic. The yacтn (Smallanthus sonchifolius) is one of the plant species containing inulin with its content in the dry matter approximating 58.6%. The research on extracting inulin from the yacтn may have produced promising results so far, but it is a time-consuming and technologically-complex process. Therefore, it is worthwhile to further pursue the development of technology and parameters relating to the process of formation of in vitro callus culture of the yacтn (Smallanthus sonchifolius) on account of it demonstrating considerable potential for being a good source of inulin as a biologically active substance.