Question

Secondary metabolite production in plant suspension cultures generally occurs during

• A. Lag phase
• B. Exponential phase
• C. Stationary phase
• D. Death phase

Hint:

Growth phase vs. metabolite production: \[ \boxed{ \begin{aligned} \text{Log phase} &\rightarrow \text{Primary metabolites} \text{Stationary phase} &\rightarrow \text{Secondary metabolites} \end{aligned} } \]

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Recall primary and secondary metabolites. Primary metabolites are synthesized during active cell growth (log phase), whereas secondary metabolites are generally produced after active growth slows.

Step 2: Identify the growth phase. Secondary metabolite production reaches its maximum during the \[ \boxed{\text{Stationary phase}.} \] Therefore, \[ \boxed{(C)} \] is the correct answer.