Growth and ginsenoside production in Panax quinquefolium hairy roots cultivated in flasks and nutrient sprinkle bioreactor

Transformed roots of Panax quinquefolium were obtained after inoculation of sterile parts of plantlets from field cultivation with Agrobacterium rhizogenes ATCC 15834. Hairy roots grew in shaken flasks with liquid Gamborg medium supplemented with 30 g saccharose l(-1). Effective scale-up of a root culture was achieved in nutrient sprinkle bioreactor. Growth of biomass in shaken flask and in bioreactor increased 10-times and 5-times, respectively. Ginsenoside content exceeds 3 mg/g d.w. in flasks and 6 mg/g d.w. in bioreactor.