Effect of Auxin Transport Inhibitors on Morphology and Growth of Hairy Root Cultures of Beta vulgaris
Veena Bhagwat
Department of Biological Sciences, Plant Biotechnology laboratory Ramniranjan Jhunjhunwala College, Ghatkopar (W), Mumbai 400086, INDIA
Usha Mukundan *
Department of Biological Sciences, Plant Biotechnology laboratory Ramniranjan Jhunjhunwala College, Ghatkopar (W), Mumbai 400086, INDIA
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The complex morphology of hairy roots poses problems in scaling them up. One major problem with hairy root cultures is mass transfer limitation due to liquid stagnation because of the presence of numerous root hairs. These root hairs can be eliminated by using auxin transport inhibitors resulting in hairless cultures. Low levels of Pyrenebutyric acid (7.6?M) were found to eliminate root hairs of Beta vulgaris. Shake flask mixing time studies using blue dextran in high density cultures suggests that root hairs contribute to a deficient mass transfer environment and do not play any significant role physiologically in liquid cultures.