Fig. 5

Semi-continuous experiments to test biomass and taxane production. A Biomass in fresh cell weight (FCW) accumulated at the end of each cultivation. B Total taxane concentrations in the cultivation phases (solid and liquid). C Paclitaxel yields from biomass of VSCs. D Comparison of batch and semi-continuous (with elicitor renewal) paclitaxel yields. The semi-continuous runs lasted 5 weeks in total including three media renewals, with conditions of 25 °C, 100 rpm in a dark environment and the same media concentration as batch cultivations. The resin treatment used was treatment A at 3% w/v consisting of 0.5, 1 and 1.5% w/v of HP-20, XAD7HP and HP-2MG, respectively. Bars represent the mean value, while the error bars represent S.D. (n = 3). Paired t-test was used for statistical analysis in (C) (t = 8.64) and D (t = 1.075) where p < 0.001 ***, p < 002 **, p < 0.03 * and p > 0.1 ns