Abstract: The effects of different 6- BA concentrations on the motherwort seeds′ germination were studied，and the leaves of plantlets which generated from the seeds，were selected as the explants，to explore the suitable conditions of callus induction，using the orthogonal design，the callus′ proliferation conditions and alkaloid content were studied. The results showed that when the concentration of 6-BA was 1. 5 mg/L，the seeds′ germination rate was highest，up to 26. 39%；the suitable medium composition for callus′ induction was MS + 6-BA 2. 0 mg/L + 2，4-D 0. 5 mg/L + sucrose 20 g/L + agar 7 g/L，induction rate reached 80. 00%；the suitable hormone combinations for the callus′ proliferation was 2. 0 mg/L 6- BA＋ 0. 3 mg/L 2，4-D，the proliferation rate reached 88. 05%，but the above hormone combinations on callus′ alkaloid content had no significant difference.

Key words: motherwort, callus, alkaloid, orthogonal test, seed germination, tissue culture