BIOREACTOR DEVELOPMENT FOR CONTINUAL-FLOW, LIQUID PLANT TISSUE CULTURE

A continual-flow liquid nutrient plant tissue culture bioreactor was constructed in the form of a Nalgene "Bio-Safe" polycarbonate box that supported 10 Sigma membrane rafts. Polypropylene jars serving as supply and waste reservoirs and flexible silicon tubing connections with the growth chamber permitted autoclaving the bioreactor system as an integral unit. Microbial membrane filters enabled periodic nutrient and gas exchanges without jeopardizing asepsis of the closed bioreactor system. A septum port permitted sampling of the nutrient medium for composition analyses. Doubling or greater of fresh weight gains have been observed with Rex begonia cv. Peacock, Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Burley 21 and Citrullus lanatus cv. ‘Charlee’. Vitrification is prominent with Citrullus lanatus under current protocols in the bioreactor.