Secondary product formation in plant tissue cultures

The formation of secondary products in plant tissue cultures is reviewed. T he conditions for the enhanced production of secondary products, which incl ude alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids and phenolics, can be regulated in a nu mber of ways. For example, manipulation of secondary product formation is p ossible by varying the nutrient composition of the growth medium, light, te mperature and pH, and by the use of elicitors, permeabilisation and two-sta ge systems. Molecular engineering and the use of biomass and large-scale cu lture are described along with future prospects for the commercial producti on of secondary products from cell suspension cultures.