The potential role of immobilization in plant cell biotechnology

Abstract

It has long been hoped that the unique biosynthetic capacity of plants could be exploited in vitro using culture systems analogous to microbial fermentations. However, the characteristics of both the growth and metabolism of plant cells in vitro differ considerably from those of microbial cells and plant cell suspension culture systems have met with limited success. Immobilizing the cells creates a new set of options for the plant biotechnologist to explore. Improvements in some process criteria are apparent although evaluating the potential of immobilized plant cells for producing commercial compounds will only be possible when the biological problems have been overcome.