Phenolics production by encapsulated Nicotiana tabacum cells.

Plant cells of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) were grown for several generations in suspension cultures. Cells were immobilized in continuous bioreactors in calcium alginate (Ca Alg) beads or in poly-L-lysine (PLL) encapsulated calcium alginatehydrogels. In each case, the cells were fed continuously a modified Linsmaier-Skoog plant cell culture medium. The bioreactor effluent was analyzed for total phenolic compounds. The net specific productivity of phenolics was calculated on a daily basis for several test runs. For comparison, productivity in suspension cultures was monitored. Productivity of suspended cells declined to zero within 9 d; both immobilized and encapsulated cells remained productive for 16 d following inoculation. Specific productivity by encapsulated cells was higher than that by immobilized cells; in both types similar rates of decline in productivity occurred.