Isolation and Establishment of Cambial Meristematic Cells (CMCs) from Panax vietnamensis var. fuscidiscus

Abstract

Panax vietnamensis var. fuscidiscus is an endemic medicinal plant of Vietnam, renowned for its high content of ocotillol-type saponins. While plant cell culture presents a promising strategy for producing these valuable compounds, large-scale application remains limited by the instability and heterogeneity of dedifferentiated cells (DDCs). To overcome these limitations, inherently undifferentiated cambial meristematic cells (CMCs) from P. vietnamensis var. fuscidiscus were successfully isolated and cultured. Optimal induction of callus was achieved using WPM (Woody plant medium) supplemented with 1.0 mg/l picloram and 2.0 mg/l BAP, resulting in a CMC formation frequency of 28.67% and a mean fresh weight of 568 ± 32 mg per explant after one month induction. CMCs were characterized by distinct morphological and cytological traits: small, isodiametric cells with multiple small vacuoles and a non-aggregative, slow-growing proliferation pattern. These features were confirmed through neutral red staining and long-term culture. Notably, the established CMC lines remained morphologically stable and proliferative over a six-month subculture period. This is the first report on the successful isolation and maintenance of CMCs in P. vietnamensis var. fuscidiscus, providing a robust cellular system for downstream applications such as somatic embryogenesis, metabolic engineering, and the production of secondary metabolites. The CMC-based platform offers new opportunities for the conservation and sustainable utilization of this pharmacologically important species.

Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 36(1): 25-36, 2026 (June)