Behavior of cell aggregate of Carthamus tinctorius L. cultured cells and correlation with red pigment formation

The formation processes of Carthamus tinctorius cell aggregates in a growth medium and the correlation of red pigment formation with cell aggregate sizes were investigated. About 80% of cell aggregates in the growth medium were > 1.00 mm in size. The growth rate of large cell aggregates was more rapid than that of small cell aggregates. Most cell aggregates > 0.50 mm in size became larger or smaller than their original sizes during the culture. A high level of red pigment formation was observed when cell aggregates obtained by the preculture using cell aggregates < 1.00 mm in size were cultured in the production medium.