The aims of this study were to determine the optimal medium for callus induction from tender
leaves of Cyclocarya paliurus (Batalin) Ilijinskaya and determine differences in polysaccharide
contents among two types of calli and various types of C. paliurus leaves. Using an orthogonal
analysis, the optimal conditions for C. paliurus callus tissue induction were found to be mainly
influenced by the basal medium and the exogenous hormone concentration and ratio. Callus induction
and browning rates were influenced by the following, in decreasing order of significance: basal
medium, the cytokinin, 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA), and the auxin, indole-3-butyric acid (IBA).
The optimal medium was determined to be NN69 medium supplemented with 1.0 mg L-1 6-BA
and 0.05 mg L-1 IBA. Next, the polysaccharide content was determined by the phenol-sulfuric acid
method. The polysaccharide content in the callus was found to be markedly higher than that in C.
paliurus leaves collected over different periods, as well as those in commercial and handmade teas.
Furthermore, the polysaccharide content in green calli was higher than that in brown calli. The
present findings are important in terms of the development, utilization, and industrial applications
of C. paliurus, particularly C. paliurus tea.