IMPROVEMENT OF THE CATHARANTHINE PRODUCTIVITY IN HAIRY ROOT CULTURES OF CATHARANTHUS-ROSEUS BY USING MONOSACCHARIDES AS A CARBON SOURCE

Sucrose, glucose, and fructose as carbon sources in culture medium were assessed in hairy root cultures of Catharanthus roseus. The cultures preferentially consumed sucrose,'resulting in about 40% (dry wt) higher growth rate. However, fructose enhanced the cathranthine yield about two-fold. The elevated yield was not seemingly ascribed to the higher osmolarity per unit weight of fructose than sucrose. A two stage culture using sucrose (1st) and fructose (2nd) improved volumetric yields of catharanthine about two-fold, i.e. 41 mg/l.