Condensed tannin and anthocyanin production in Vitis vinifera cell suspension cultures

Suspension cultures of Vitis vinifera were cultured in different media in order to establish a model system for promoting high levels of phenolic substances identical with those found in wine. These media were: a low sucrose maintenance medium (MM) and four high sucrose media (differing mainly in sucrose and mineral contents) which were shown to induce secondary metabolism. In MM medium, polyphenol accumulation in the cells was low, and concentrations of 0.1 mg/gfw for condensed tannins and 0.3 mg/gfw for anthocyanins were reached within two weeks of cultivation. Values of 1.4 and 6.4 mg/gfw, respectively, were obtained with a low nitrate and high sucrose medium (HM1), but cell proliferation was reduced. To obtain a maximal production of polyphenols, we investigated the most effective conditions for cell growth and polyphenol production (a high mineral and high sucrose medium, IM1; inoculum dilution of 1.25:10). Under these conditions, the cells produced mainly anthocyanins (1100 mg/l), proanthocyanidins (300 mg/l) and catechins (25 mg/l).