Accumulation of Cd2+ and Pb2+ in the suspension cultures of Agave amaniensis and Costus speciosus and the determination of the culture's growth and phytosteroid content

Abstract

Cell suspension cultures of Agave amaniensis and Costus speciosus were grown in media containing Cd2 + up to 25 and 20 mg l−1, respectively, and Pb2+ up to 40 mg l−1. The cultures hyper-accumulated Cd2+ up to 900 and 530 μg g−1 and Pb2+ up to 1390 and 1170 μg g−1 dry wt. in their respective biomasses. Increasing Pb2+ up to 30 mg l−1 increased the biomass production and total sitosterol content of Costus speciosus by up to 1.7- and 1.3-fold, respectively.