MULTIPLICATION OF OIL PALM SUSPENSION CULTURES IN A BENCH-TOP (2-litre) BIOREACTOR

摘要

Oil palm Elaeis guineensis suspension cultures were multiplied in a B-Braun Biostat~(~R) B′ 2L version 1.0 bioreactor. An initial experiment using the original system was not successful as most of the culture aggregates lodged between the baffle cage and inner wall of the vessel and also between the blades of the impeller. This damaged the aggregates. Some modifications were then made to the bioreactor by replacing the impeller, baffle cage and microsparger. After modification, the cultures showed good proliferation with about 10- to 14-fold weight increment after 50 to 80 days. Thus, the B-Braun bioreactor with slight modification has the potential for large scale multiplication of oil palm suspension cultures.