Nutrient requirements of suspension cultures of soybean root cells.

Abstract The nutrient requirements of suspension cultures from soybean root have been investigated, and a simple medium consisting of mineral salts, sucrose, vitamins and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4- d ) has been designed. The cells required thiamine, 2,4- d and ammonium in addition to the usual mineral salts and sucrose. Optimum concentrations of nitrate and ammonium were 25 and 2 m M respectively. The highest yield of cells was achieved at an initial pH of 4.5–5.5. During the growth cycle the pH gradually increased to 6.0–6.2.