Abstract
Bursera linanoe cell suspension cultures were initiated from callus grown in Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with naphthalene acetic acid (3.0 mg L−1) and 6-benzylaminopurine (0.5 mg L−1). In flasks, B. linanoe cell cultures grew over a 9 day period, reaching a maximum biomass of 11.16 g DW L−1. Throughout the growth phase, cell viability was constant at 60 – 70%. In contrast, B. linanoe cells growing in a bioreactor achieved a maximum biomass of 22.26 g DW L−1 (after 7 days), and cell viability was constant at 75 - 85%. Production of linalool and linalyl acetate in the bioreactor (3.02 and 2.40 mg g−1 DW, respectively) was significantly greater than that achieved from cells in flask cultures (1.05 and 0.97 mg g−1 DW, respectively). B. linanoe cell suspension culture has potential as an alternative method for the production of essential oils.
