Enhancement of pigment productivity of immobilized cultured Lavandula vera cells by limitation of nitrogen sources

Cultured cells of Lavandula vera entrapped with a photosensitive synthetic resin prepolymer (PVA-SbQ) produced blue pigments in the presence of l-cysteine as an inducer. The type of nitrogen sources in the culture medium greatly influenced the production of pigments. In the absence of an ammonium type nitrogen source, the induction of pigment synthesis by l-cysteine was observed in successive batches of the incubation without intermittent activation of the cells in the absence of l-cysteine. The pigment productivity of the entrapped cells was remarkably enhanced in the improved production medium containing potassium nitrate as the sole nitrogen source.