ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Higher plants are able to produce particular chemical compounds that are some times specific to a species or several species and referred to as secondary metabolites. A plant can produce them in different organs or synthesis may be limited to certain organs or to certain cells of an organ. It is considered that in most cases a certain degree of morphological and/or biochemical differentiation is required for the pro duction of secondary metabolites. The production of these substances in plantlets, isolated organs or cell cultures can be observed under in vitro culture conditions.
