Question

Suspension culture is generally used for

• A. Haploid production
• B. Micropropagation
• C. In vitro pollination
• D. Production of secondary metabolites

Hint:

Suspension cultures (cells suspended in liquid media under agitation) are used in industrial bioreactors for the large-scale production of plant secondary metabolites and pharmaceuticals.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
A suspension culture consists of plant cells or cell aggregates dispersed and growing in a liquid nutrient medium, typically maintained under continuous agitation on a shaker or in a bioreactor.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Suspension cultures are established by transferring friable callus tissue into a liquid medium.
Agitation breaks up the tissue into individual cells and small cell clusters, while improving aeration and nutrient distribution.
This culture system is used for the commercial production of plant secondary metabolites (such as alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and recombinant proteins).
Because suspension cultures grow as uniform cell populations under controlled conditions, they can be scaled up in industrial bioreactors.
This allows for the continuous extraction of high-value compounds (such as shikonin, paclitaxel, and ginseng saponins) independently of seasonal or soil conditions.
The other options listed utilize different tissue culture techniques:
- Haploid production is managed through anther or pollen culture on solid media.
- Micropropagation typically uses organized shoot tip or nodal explants on solid media.
- In vitro pollination requires the controlled pollination of excised pistils or ovules.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Suspension culture is used for the production of secondary metabolites, which corresponds to Option (D).