In the suspension cultures of Eschscholtzia californica, phytohormone effects showed that alkaloid production was increased by IAA treatment without kinetin in both volumetric and specific way. Kinetin, however, suppressed alkaloid accumulation. Addition of ethephon inhibited cell growth. However, it enhanced the alkaloid production significantly in both volumetric and specific way. IAA promoted alkaloid production during elicitation. The highest alkaloid accumulation was observed at 5 $mu$ M of IAA. Ethephon also enhanced alkaloid production during elicitation. The highest alkaloid formation was observed at 460 mg/l of ethephon with elicitation. Elicitation with ethephon, however, altered cell growth and the pattern of benzophenanthridine alkaloids production.