Measurement of cultured plant cell growth on filter paper discs

Abstract

To measure growth of cell cultures with minimal or no disturbance, a thin layer of cells can be separated from the agar medium by a disc of filter paper. The disc and adhering cells are removed periodically, weighed, and replaced. With this filter paper growth assay it is possible to produce a complete growth curve from a single culture without sacrificing that culture. It provides immediate measurement of wet weight, and allows for transfer of cultures to different media without interruption of growth. During the initial stages of growth, cells are spread thinly over a large surface with relatively uniform exposure to the medium, thus combining some of the benefits of growth in suspension with the lower cost and simplicity of callus culture.