Types of cells

Suspension cultures rarely
consisted of single cells only.
Most comprise of cell aggregates
as well as free floating cells.

Cells in the cell aggregates are
in a different micro-environment
to the free floating ones.

This contributes to the lack of
homogeneity of the cell population
as far as size, shape and metabolism
are concerned. This is a serious
problem. Cytological instability
leads to chromosomal irregularities
and genotypic variation.

examples:

A typical aggregate of small, viable,
isodiametric cells of a shoot cell
suspension culture of Erythrina
which occurs in the the exponential
and linear growth phases


A filamentous cell of a shoot cell suspension of Erythrina	A filamentous septated cell of a shoot cell suspension of Erythrina dividing actively at one end to form an aggregate	A giant filamentous cell (G) in a shoot cell suspension of Erythrina. Note the differnce in the size between the giant cell, the smaller generally occurring filamentious cells and the isodiametric cell.	A giant (G) and normal (N) isodiametric cell in a shoot cell suspension culture of Erythrina.