The photoautotrophic culture of chlorophyllous cells

Abstract

Photosynthesis in chlorophyllous cells in heterotrophic cultures was investigated. Chlorophyllous cells from the amur cork-tree, scotch broom and tobacco, all of which had relatively high chlorophyll contents (70 to 120 μg/g fresh weight) were selected throughout callus induction and cell subculture. When cultured under various light intensities, growth was stimulated by increases in light intensity. This stimulation depended on the chlorophyll contents of the cells. It disappeared on the addition of photosynthesis inhibitors (DCMU or 2-chloro-4,6-bis(ethylamino)-s-triazine). These phenomena indicate that photosynthesis accounted for a third to a half of cell growth under strong illumination. These heterotrophic cultures were then developed as autotrophic cultures. When these chlorophyllous cells were cultured with aeration using CO2-enriched air in the light condition, the scotch broom and tobacco chlorophyllous cells grew photoautotrophically. Nearly the same amount of growth as with 3% sucrose in the dark was observed in an autotrophic culture with aeration using air containing 1% CO2. The green tobacco cells have been subcultured autotrophically for about one year.