RESEARCH ARTICLE

Journal of Oil Palm Research (Special Issue - April 2008), p. 44-50

MULTIPLICATION OF OIL PALM LIQUID CULTURES IN BIOREACTORS

AHMAD TARMIZI Hashim ; SAMSUL KAMAL Rosli* ; ZAITON Rasul* ; ROSLI Md Yunus*

ABSTRACT

Bioreactor systems can provide quantitative data on oil palm liquid cultures since control of the environmental variables is maintained. Oil palm liquid cultures were multiplied in three bioreactors – B-Braun, Biotron and Sixfors. The cultures showed good proliferation with about 5- to 12-fold weight increment after about 60 days in the B-Braun bioreactor. Increments in fresh weight of four-to five-fold were obtained from the Biotron bioreactor. In the Sixfors system, the increment in cell fresh weight was about three-fold. The production and productivity of cultures multiplied in the bioreactors varied from one clone to another. This study has provided a better understanding of oil palm liquid cultures with regards to their growth in different bioreactors and their potential for commercial applications.

KEYWORDS:


* Malaysian Palm Oil Board, P. O. Box 10620, 50720 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
E-mail: mizi@mpob.gov.my

Journal of Oil Palm Research Special Issue on Malaysia-MIT Biotechnology Partnership Programme: Volume 1-Oil Palm Tissue Culture