Uses of cell culture

The culturing of plant cells in suspension in liquid medium is a technique which has found wide application.

Cell suspensions are ideal
to study factors affecting
growth and differentiation
and the role of compounds
and metabolites. Most of
the cells are in direct contact
with the medium, therefore
the effects of concentration
gradients are avoided.

Suspension cultures
Cell suspension cultures have
also found application in the
field of somatic embryogenesis.

Use of suspension cultures has
several advantages over callus
cultures, the embryos are evenly
bathed in the culture medium,
thus better control of development
is achieved than in callus systems
where concentration gradients arise.

Somatic embryos
The greatest potential for
application of cell suspension
cultures is secondary
metabolite production.

Anthocyanin production
in suspension culture