The Viability and Biosynthetic Activity of Cells of Capsicum frutescens Mill. cv. annuum Immobilized in Reticulate Polyurethane

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Abstract
Cells of C. frutescens Mill. cv. annuum, immobilized in reticulate polyurethane foam, retained a high level of viability after a 23 d period of entrapment, as determined by respiratory activity, esterase activity (staining with fluorescein diacetate), nutrient uptake and secondary metabolic activity (capsaicin production). Esterase activity and the ability to accumulate capsaicin were retained during prolonged culture periods (of up to 12 weeks' duration), and although certain precursors to capsaicin (phenylalanine, ferulic acid and isocapric acid), when supplied to immobilized cells at a concentration of 1.0 mol m −3 were found to reduce respiratory activity, this could be restored by the sequential chemical treatment of the cells, using precursor-free medium. The ability of immobilized pepper cells to produce capsaicin under such conditions was examined. Evidence is presented which suggests that the immobilization in polyurethane acts to stabilize cells (in terms of the retention of esterase, respiratory and secondary metabolic activity) when subjected to storage at 3 °C.