| Abstract | This chapter describes a chemostat for single cell cultures of higher plants. It presents a fermentor based on a novel principle that prevents the cells from clumping by using pulses of compressed air for agitation and aeration. The apparatus is autoclaved in three sections including the culture vessel, the medium reservoir with the medium line, and the harvest reservoir with the harvest line. After sterilization, the three sections are fitted together, the apparatus is connected to the air supply, the condenser to the cooling water, and the coil is fitted on the magnetic valve and connected with the relay. The speed of the pump motor is preset for the delivery of the desired flow rate. In the technique described in the chapter, an inoculum of actively dividing cells, growing in submersed culture on rotary shakers is used. Fresh medium containing 10% inoculum is poured into the fermentor through the inoculation port. It is found that as the bubble slowly moves upward through the vessel, the entire culture passes as a thin layer between the fermentor wall and the surface of the air bubble, thus being aerated and stirred effectively. |
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