RESEARCH ON TISSUE CULTURES OF HIGHER PLANTS

The nutrient requirements of several plant tissue cultures, their protein content, and their ability to fix carbon dioxide were investigated. These studies were undertaken to compare higher plant tissue cultures with the alga, Chlorella pyrenoidosa (Indiana 26). Several plant tissue cultures could be grown on defined media, but these media were more complex than those required for Chlorella. The protein in the alcohol insoluble residue of Chlorella was 60% and the protein in the same residue from tissue cultures was 10% to 39%. The carbon dioxide fixation of Chlorella exceeded the fixing capacity of the tissue cultures, but some appreciable photosynthetic activity was recorded for tomato tissue. These results are considered preliminary and are not considered indicative of the best autotrophic higher plant tissue cultures which could be obtained. (Author) Report on Space Biology.