BIOREACTOR STUDIES ON HAIRY ROOT CULTURES OF CATHARANTHUS-ROSEUS - COMPARISON OF 3 BIOREACTOR TYPES

Hairy roots of Catharanthus roseus were cultivated in three different types of bioreactors. The best growth and indole alkaloid production w as achieved in an air-sparged bioreactor with no other mixing. In the stirred bioreactor or in the bioreactor with medium circulation the ro ots did not grow, suggesting that hairy roots of C roseus are more sen sitive to stress than root cultures of many other plant species.