Abstract: The effects of precursor feeding and mixed sugar supplements on the growth and taxol production of Taxus chinensis var. mairei Cheng et Fu in the biphasic-liquid culture were studied. Precursor feeding (phenylanine, benzamide and sodium acetate) and mixed sugars (maltose and sucrose) resulted in significant increase of taxol production not only in the monophasic-liquid culture but also in the biphasic-liquid culture of T. chinensis var. mairei. The synergistic function of precursor feeding on day 10 and mixed sugars on day 11 in the biphasic-liquid culture revealed more significant increase of taxol production, which was four times that of the control (the monophasic-liquid culture without precursors or mixed sugars).

Key words: Taxol, Taxus chinensis var. mairei, Biphasic-liquid culture, Precursor feeding, Mixed sugar