Establishment of Plantation of Yew Trees (Taxus Mairei) with a High Taxol Content

News source: Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, Taiwan, ROC.
For further information: Taiwan Jour. Forestry Sci. 15 (3):365-77, 2000., 2001-01-01

Contains Anti-Cancer Drug

The yew tree Taxus mairei is viewed as a national treasure in Taiwan. Its needles contain taxol, an effective anti-cancer drug. Two plantations with more than fifty clones were established by the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute in 1997. Two fast-growing clones were selected and planted as scions, from which branches could be harvested. By 3.6 years after planting, at a density of 2 x 0.5 m, seedlings had reached an average height of 2.2 m. They were cut at 1 m high above the ground, producing about 2 kg of branches per plant.

Taxol Content Varies with Harvest Season

The concentrations of taxol and 10-deacetyl baccatin III (DBC) were 0.2 and 0.4 g, respectively, when branches were harvested in February. Experiments are now under way to look at the taxol content when the branches are harvested at different seasons, and at branch productivity per year. The yield of taxol and DBC in branches is expected to double if they are harvested at a suitable season.

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