Study Group: Plant Biotechnology

Group Leader: Dr. Gerhard Kerns

Plant cell culture technology has great potential in the production of valuable secondary metabolites for different applications. This technology is in a relatively advanced state, as emphasized by the diversity of the processes available for the in vitro cultivation of plant cells, which promise future biotechnological applications and the introduction of a new phase in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries or in agriculture.

This technology is considered especially useful for extracting products of high-value. The following advantages can be gained:

• Cultivation is independent of land and seasonal conditions,
• Plant cell culture of plants that are difficult to cultivate, e.g. plants from extreme locations,
• Cultivation of plants from the so-called "Red List",
• Cultivation of genetically modified plants without release,
• Realisation of a constant quality that can be standardised.

Plant cell cultivation puts high demands on both the fermentation and the analysis processes. The work group concentrates on determining plant cell cultures and optimising plant cell cultivation in the bioreactor, as much for the physiological as the procedural parameters.
In co-operation with a medium-sized company, research is carried out into the optimisation of cell cultivation for selected plants until a pilot measure is attained. Research into the analytical characteristics of the target products from a pharmacological point of view as well as the decomposition of target products is also carried out in co-operation with other institutes.

Projects:

SAB


SAB


SMWK


SMUL