The Effect of Nutrient Medium Composition on the Growth Cycle of Catharanthus roseus G. Don Cells Grown in Batch Culture

Growth of C. roseus</it> cell suspension culture was defined in terms of dry weight, cell number, mitotic index, and packed cell volume. Removal of major nutrients from the medium was monitored as a function of culture growth. Phosphate and sucrose were the only macronutrients completely exhausted. Utilization of these two nutrients occurred parallel with increments in dry weight and cell number. Increasing the nutrient medium levels of sucrose and phosphate prolonged growth of this culture; lag and exponential phases were extended; cell number and dry weight yield were doubled. Dry weight assimilation was enhanced by increasing the nutrient medium level of sucrose, whereas increments in cell number were related to phosphate level. Two alkaloid fractions (fractions 1 and 2) were identified in this cell line. Fraction 2 alkaloid level declined as the nutrient medium supply of nitrogen was depleted.