Utilization of plant cell cultures for production of biochemicals

Abstract

The potential biotechnological application of plant cell cultures for the production of various biochemicals and possible advantages of such a process are reviewed. To date, only one commercial process based on the culture of plant cells for the production of a chemical compound (shikonin) is in operation, and this process is briefly described. Problems related to the large‐scale culture of plant cells are also discussed, and a comparison between microbial cells and cultured plant cells is used to illustrate some special features of the plant cells that complicate scaling up. Methods available for the establishment of high yielding cell cultures are described. Finally, the potentials of immobilized plant cells for the production of biochemicals are discussed. Various methods available for the immobilization of plant cells are briefly reviewed and some characteristics of such biocatalysts are given. The possible advantages of immobilized plant cells over suspension cells are pointed out. Copyright © 1985, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved