Chlorophyll production in fed-batch cultures of Ocimum basilicum (sweet basil)

Abstract

Sweet basil ( Ocimum basilicum) cell suspensions were cultured in the glucose-limiting conditions of fed-batch culture and the glucose-excess conditions of batch culture. When compared, the cells in fed-batch culture had a higher specific production rate of total chlorophyll (q.chl) and a higher potential photosynthesis rate. In fed-batch culture an increase in the glucose feed rate markedly inhibited these variables. Results from these and other fed-batch cultures indicated that q.chl did not change much with specific growth rate. Thus, the inhibition of q.chl at high glucose feed rates was not thought to be caused directly by the increase in specific growth rate.