KINETIC AND TECHNICAL STUDIES ON LARGE-SCALE CULTURE OF RHODIOLA-SACHALINENSIS COMPACT CALLUS AGGREGATES WITH AIRLIFT REACTORS

Compact callus aggregates (CCA) of Rhodiola sachalinensis, spherical, smooth-surfaced clumps of 2-8 mm in diameter displaying some level of tissue differentiation, were successfully cultured in 10 dm(3) and 100 dm(3) air-lift reactors. High salidroside yields of 60.0 mg dm(-3) we re obtained, which were 10-fold the dispersed cell cultures. The salid roside accumulation was found to be growth-associated due to the diffe rentiated structure of CCA. No 'foaming' was observed since the broth remained almost clear throughout the culture cycle. The size of CCA co nformed to normal distribution with average diameters varying from 3.1 mm to 3.6 mm during the culture. The depositing velocity of CCA in cu lture broth was small enough to be readily retained in suspension, the refore avoiding the clogging of the reactors. The significant increase in solid hold-up of the culture system was suggested to contribute to the variation of k(L) a during the culture. (C) 1998 SCI.