The uptake of copper ions by cell suspension cultures of Agave amaniensis, and its effect on the growth, amino acids and hecogenin content

Cell suspension cultures of Agave amaniensis were able to grow in media containing 10 - 240 μM copper ions, and could remove more than 67% copper ions from the media. The cells accumulated up to 106 mg g^-1 copper ions in the biomass. Copper ions at 240 μM caused a decrease in growth index and packed cell volume of the cultures of 61.5 and 53.3%, respectively. The presence of copper ions caused the cell walls to thicken and to be more wrinkled. Certain amino acids were released in high concentration into the media. The hecogenin content in the biomass increased up to 157.9% at 20 μM copper ions.