Novel bioreactors for the growth of roots transformed by Agrobacterium rhizogenes

Growth in culture of plant roots transformed with Agrobacterium rhizogenes provides a method for the production of many commercially valuable products. The yield achieved is critical for the financial viability of the method, and the design of the bioreactor can have a profound influence on the yield and growth characteristics. Most bioreactors are designed for the growth of microorganisms, animal cells, or plant cells in suspension and are not ideally suited for the growth of transformed roots. Novel bioreactors have therefore been designed specifically for the culture of transformed roots. This comparison of novel and conventional culture vessels indicates that the growth of transformed roots can be greater in a mist of culture medium than when submerged or in a trickling film of medium.