ENHANCED PRODUCTION OF SCOPOLIN BY SOLANUM AVICULARE CELLS IMMOBILIZED WITHIN CA-ALGINATE GEL BEADS

Different matrices, obtained by varying calcium (0.1 to 1.5M) and algi nate (1 to 1.5%) concentrations, were used to study the influence of i mmobilisation parameters on the behaviour of S. aviculare. A significa nt modulation of cell growth, cell release, and scopolin production an d excretion has been observed. Physiological and morphological charact eristics of Solanum aviculare cells immobilised within Ca-alginate bea ds were notably different from those of suspended cells. Immobilised S . aviculare have accumulated scopolin (up to 120 mu g . g(-1) FWB) wit hin beads and excreted it into the culture medium (up to 8 mu g . g(-1 ) FWB), Contrary to suspended cells which have accumulated only traces of this metabolite within intracellular compartments (1 mu g . g(-1) FWB), no scopolin has been found into the culture medium.