Kinetics of mineral nutrient uptake by Saponaria officinalis L. suspension cell cultures in different media.

The uptake of mineral nutrients from two media with different mineral composition, a classical MSA medium and a modified MH2 medium, by Saponaria officinalis (soapwort) cells was studied over a growth cycle of 14 days, by continuous measurement of mineral consumption without opening the culture flasks. The mineral composition of the MH2 medium was found to be better suited to S. officinalis cells. Culture on MSA medium showed that copper is probably a factor limiting growth, that phosphate is rapidly exhausted from this medium, that its strong ammonium concentration is antagonistic to the absorption of potassium and, lastly, that sodium and chlorine may be considered as non-essential elements.