The nutrient uptake of cotton suspension cultures was studied during a 30 day-culture period. Cotton cell suspension cultures of the 101-102B genotype were established and monthly subcultured in liquid medium. Culture growth rate, nutrient uptake and pH variations in the medium were measured. A 6-fold increase in fresh weight of the cotton cell culture was observed on day 30. The majority of the nutrients were taken up at a high rate, and their consumption was at least 80% of the original concentration. Nevertheless, the uptake rate varied among the elements. While PO4(3-) was practically depleted from the medium on day 10, the ions such as K+, Ca2+, SO4(2-) and Mg2+ had a 20% residual at the end of the period. The pH of the culture medium increased initially and stabilized at pH 6.2 at the beginning of the stationary phase. In addition, the cotton cell suspension culture took up 89% of glucose added to the medium.
Gossypium hirsutum; tissue culture; macronutrient; micronutrient