Performance of Luffa cylindrica as immobilization matrix in bioconversion reactions by Nicotiana tabacum BY-2.

The dry fruit of Luffa cylindrica was investigated as an immobilization matrix for Nicotiana tabacum cells in bioconversion reactions of exogenous substrates. Immobilized cells show high biocatalytic activity under high substrate levels. Cell growth on the dry fruit can be maintained until reaching an immobilization capacity of 1.8 g cells/g(Luffa).