Hairy roots of Brugmansia candida that grow without agitation: Biotechnological implications

Hairy roots of Brugmansia candida that grew without agitation were obtained . Kinetics of growth and production of the tropane alkaloids scopolamine an d hyoscyamine, with and without agitation, were studied. The exponential gr owth rate was higher in the roots that were exposed to shaking (0.13 d(-1)) than in the nonagitated ones (0.09 d(-1)). The specific production and the levels per flask of both alkaloids were enhanced without shaking. The use of these roots in large-scale productions could be economically advantageou s. It remains to be seen if the data obtained in shake flasks can be extrap olated to large-scale bioreactors.