Evaluation of a Simple Automated Bioreactor for the Production of Pelargoniums Progress Report — March 1992
Date 17 March 1992
Title of Project Evaluation of a Simple Automated Bioreactor for the Production of Pelargoniums
Institution where work is being conducted The Pennsylvania State University
Amount of Endowment Grant $5,000
Covering Period 6/92 to 5/93
Anticipated Date of Project Completion/Final Report 6/96
Individual(s) Conducting Project:
(List Project Leader First)
Richard N. Arteca - Title Assoc. Professor
Telephone Number 814-863-2252
Evaluation of a Simple Automated Bioreactor for the Production of Pelargoniums
Richard N. Arteca
Pennsylvania State University
- A. Project Objectives:
- Our major objectives for the first year of this project are to produce callus toPelargonium leaves, maximize growth rates while maintaining chromosome stability, to
begin to develop methods for cryopreservation of cells and begin evaluating different
hormone treatments to induce the regeneration of plantlets.
- B. Summary of Work Since Project’s Inception Suitable for Dissemination:
- At the present time there is no data available for dissemination.
- C. Results to Date:
- To date we have been able to produce Pelargonium callus and are presently expandingout these different cell lines for use in cryopreservation studies and hormonal treatments to
induce regeneration of plantlets.
- D. Future Plans Covered by the Endowment Grant:
- During subsequent years of the project we will standardize methods for thecryopreservation of cells and to develop hormonal treatments to induce regeneration of
plantlets. After these goals are achieved we will evaluate bioreactor technology for the
production of Pelargonium plants. This will be accomplished by seeding an airlift
bioreactor with cells grown in suspension culture and do the following:
- - treat with hormones to promote maximum growth of callus;
- - induce plantlet production with treatments developed earlier and transfer plantlets tosoil and grow.
- The last phase of this project will be to design a larger bioreactor and evaluate how initialstudies work on a commercial scale.
- E. Anticipated Benefits for Floral Industry:
- The overall goal of the proposed research is to develop an automated bioreactor whichcan be used to increase the commercial production of selected Pelargoniums with desired
characteristics such as new genotypes or disease-free plants rapidly and efficiently. The
availability of such methods will also lead to increased breeding and selection efforts which
in turn will promote increased quality of Pelargoniums at a reduced cost which is a true
benefit to the floral industry.
