Photosynthetic growth of tobacco cells in liquid suspension

Abstract

Two clones of Nicotiana tabacum in liquid suspension culture were grown photosynthetically using air plus 2% CO2 as carbon source, and agitation. In general, the transfer from heterotrophic to autotrophic growth in these cells was accompanied by an increase in the concentration of photosynthetic pigments, an increase in the N, C, and H contents and in the N:C ratio, an increase in the photosynthetic oxygen evolution capacity, and a decrease in the respiratory rate. The limiting factors are discussed.Several clones were also grown photosynthetically on agar slants and the development of their photosynthetic pigments studied. Results showed that one cannot accurately predict the photosynthetic capability of tobacco cells from their appearance in heterotrophic culture conditions.