Effect of activated charcoal, autoclaving and culture media on sucrose hydrolysis

The effect of activated charcoal, autoclaving and culture media on sucrose hydrolysis in tissue culture media was investigated. Activated charcoal aci dified an aqueous sucrose (5%) solution and culture media by about 1 to 2 u nits after autoclaving. Sucrose hydrolysis in tissue culture media and/or a queous sucrose (5%) solutions containing activated charcoal (buffered to pH 5.8) was dependent on both the hydrogen ion concentration (pH) and autocla ving. After autoclaving, 70%, 56% and 53% sucrose hydrolysis were respectiv ely recorded in a 5% sucrose solution, Murashige and Skoog (MS) and Gamborg B5 (B5) liquid media in the presence of 1% activated charcoal, added befor e autoclaving. In the absence of activated charcoal, autoclaving resulted i n about 20% of the sucrose being hydrolyzed.