Journal of Oil Palm Research (Special Issue - April 2008), p. 44-50
MULTIPLICATION OF OIL PALM LIQUID CULTURES IN BIOREACTORS
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