Effects of immobilizing agents and procedures on viability of cultured celery (Apium graveolens) cells

Summary In an attempt to develop concurrent permeabilization/immobilization systems for the production of secondary plant metabolites, the effects of chitosan, alginate, carrageenan gel and carrageenan/chitosan copolymers as immobilizing agents and immobilization procedures on viability of culturedApium graveolens cells have been examined. Chitosan immobilization, ascorbic and succinic acid resulted in low viability of plant cells but use of carrageenan/chitosan copolymers enabled maintenance of viable cell lines providing the potential for concurrent immobilization/permeabilization of cells and elicitation of secondary metabolites by chitosan.