Abstract: This paper deals with nutritional and environmental factors on cell growth and alkaloid accumulation and release of full habituated Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don cell line C20hi in suspension cultures. The effects of different initial sucrose concentration, amount of inocula, initial pH values, illuminating time, wave length of light on cell growth and ajmalicine production and release of the cell suspensions were compared. C20hi is a cell line relatively stable to environmental changes. High concentration of initial sucrose increased the biomass accumulation and alkaloid production. The suitable inoculum of C20hi was 60 g FW/L. Increasing the initial pH value in the range of 4 ～ 7 had no obvious effect to alkaloid production. Light had a detrimental effect on alkaloid production. The cells under red light could accumulate more alkaloids than that under blue light. The shaker speed of 120 r/min was found to be most suitable for C20hi suspensions.

Key words: Full habituated cells, Nutritional and environmental factors, Catharanthus roseus, Cell culture