Optimization of organic nutrients for ginseng hairy roots production in large-scale bioreactors

Macro and micro-elements, carbon sources and elicitors play a central role during Panax ginseng hairy root growth, biomass and ginsenoside production and also influence numerous root developmental stages in largescale bioreactor culture. Due to the lack of biosynthetic nutrients and signalling-inducing nutrients, the regulatory role of mineral elements is not well understood. We have genetically engineered Agrobacterium rhizogenes KCTC 2703 to have the rol C gene in T-DNA of ginseng calluses that produce hairy roots. A normal MS medium nutrient in the bioreactor gave low hairy roots growth, biomass and ginsenoside content, indicating that an optimal mineral element ratio is required to increase hairy root growth and biomass. In addition, elicitors also play an important role in increasing ginsenoside production. These results suggest that mineral elements are an important regulatory factor in hairy root growth and biomass, while elicitors decrease biomass and increase ginsenoside content.