Plantform bioreactor developed for in vitro plant culture and large scale micropropagation.

Plantform BIOREACTOR

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION

Conventional micropropagation is expensive and labour intensive. The production systems in use for the last 20 years are still in use by most laboratories. Until now few laboratories have been truly profitable. However with development of a new biological pathway using liquid culture systems in bioreactors it is now possible that micropropagation become profitable. A small in vitro culture container, named RITA, based on this system was developed by a French company and patented in France 1995. This container was mainly developed for somatic embryogenesis and is not suitable for large scale in vitro plant propagation.

We have developed a commercially attractive bioreactor for large scale in vitro plant production. The bioreactor has been designed in a way that is easy to handle, it has low weight, it is transparent, it is autoclavable, the gas exchange including oxygen and carbon dioxide can be controlled using air pumps and a timer. The units can be places above each other saving place in the climate chamber. Fig 1 shows the construction and the details of the bioreactor.

FIG: 1.1

Bioreactor and its different parts numbered from A-F. 1:2 Outer container with 3 inlets/outlets for gas exchange, E shows the middle filter connected to a plastic tube on the inner chamber, 1:3 filters, plastic tubes, nuts, clamps and silicon rings to be connected to the 3 inlets/outlets on the outer container, 1:4A inner chamber with 3 grooves on the long side and connection to the middle filter, 1:5B basket with 3 rows of small holes, 1:6C frame with 4 legs, 1:7 lid with 4 flaps and an inner silicon ring.

Fig 1.1

Description

Figure 2. The different parts of the bioreactor described above.
Figure 3. The bioreactor with lid.

Description

After sterilizing all parts the bioreactor is ready to use. The body is filled with generally 500ml of nutrient solution under the inner chamber. Then sterile plant material is placed on the basket. The frame with the four legs are placed on the basket and the lid is secured at the top of the body. The filters are connected to a dual timer and a compressor with solenoid valves to regulate gas exchange or air pumps. When a pressure is applied to the middle filter the nutrient solution is forced upwards and cover the plant material. When pressure is relieved the nutrients will drain back through the holes in the basket. No liquid will be left on the basket which is important to avoid hyperhydricity. The immersion time and frequency is set by a timer. The other filters are used for ventilation and CO2 supply. The duration and frequency of ventilation is set by a timer. Since the body has feet at the bottom several units can be placed above each other and connected to a single control unit.

The Advantage of Plantform Bioreactor

Figure 4 shows several bioreactors connected to the control unit and simple air pumps.

Figure 4. Three bioreactors connected to a control unit and 2 air pumps. One air pump controls the level of the nutrients and one controls ventilation.

KEY POINTS

HANDLING OF PLANTFORM BIOREACTOR

TECHNICAL

GET SUPPORT

HOW TO ASSEMBLE PLANTFORM BIOREACTOR

HOW TO CONNECT SEVERAL PLANTFORM BIOREACTORS

HOW TO SETUP COST EFFECTIVE MICROPROPAGATION BUSINESS

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT