REACTOR SYSTEM FOR IN VITRO CULTURE OF PLANT MATERIAL, KIT FOR TRANSFORMING A RECEPTACLE INTO A REACTOR SUITABLE FOR THE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IN VITRO CULTURE OF PLANT MATERIAL USING THE REACTOR SYSTEM

Abstract

It comprises a receptacle for the culture of plant material, a cap for closing an opening to said receptacle, and means for allowing the entry and/or exit of gas from said receptacle, and is characterized in that it comprises a container for receiving a liquid culture medium inside the receptacle, and support means for supporting the plant material on said reception container, wherein said container is attached to the lid of the receptacle in a position suitable for use, said lid including at least one medium inlet and/or exit conduit that connects with the container to be able to fill and/or empty said container through said conduit.

Claims

1. Reactor system for in vitro culture of plant material, comprising a receptacle for the culture of plant material, a lid for closing an opening to said receptacle, and gas inlet and/or outlet means for allowing the entry and/or exit of gas from said receptacle, wherein it comprises a container for receiving a liquid culture medium inside the receptacle, and a support unit for supporting the plant material on said reception container, wherein said container is attached to the lid of the receptacle in a position suitable for use, said lid including at least one inlet and/or outlet conduit communicating with the container to be able to fill and/or empty said container through said conduit.

2. Reactor system according to claim 1, wherein the culture medium receiving container is attached to the lid such that, in a position suitable for use, it extends longitudinally from one face of the lid body inside the receptacle.

3. Reactor system according to claim 1, wherein the lid body comprises a support base configured to be able to maintain the receptacle and the container for receiving the liquid culture medium in a stable horizontal position.

4. Reactor system according to claim 2, wherein the end of said receiving container, which is attached to the inner face of the lid, includes raised side walls configured for coming into contact with the opening of the receptacle and facilitate cutting of the plant material without damaging the lid.

5. Reactor system according to claim 1, wherein said culture medium receiving container includes a cavity provided with an inclined bottom and an orifice for draining the liquid culture medium to the at least one culture medium outlet and/or inlet conduit.

6. Reactor system according to claim 1, wherein said support unit for supporting the plant material comprise at least one supporting body configured for being removably attached to the container receiving the liquid culture medium, said supporting body being configured to allow contact of the liquid culture medium with the plant material.

7. Reactor system according to claim 1, comprising fastening means for fastening the plant material capable of growing on said support unit coupled to the receiving container of the culture medium.

8. Reactor system according to claim 7, wherein said fastening means are configured in the form of a grid, the lattice of said grid being capable of fastening the base of the plant material growing on the container receiving the culture medium.

9. System according to claim 1, wherein said gas inlet and/or outlet means of the receptacle comprise at least one orifice provided in the lid for gas inlet and/or outlet.

10. Reactor system according to claim 1, wherein said receptacle is provided with an opening sized to allow the introduction of the receiving container of liquid culture medium that is attached to the closure lid of the receptacle.

11. Reactor system according to claim 3, wherein the opening of said receptacle includes a thread and said lid is configured for closing and sealing said opening by screwing it shut, said lid comprising a support base configured to maintain the receptacle and the container in a stable horizontal position while said receptacle is coupled to the lid.

12. Reactor system according to claim 1, comprising a pumping device for pumping at a predetermined frequency the liquid culture medium through said at least one culture medium inlet and/or outlet conduit of the lid, said pumping making it possible to temporarily immerse the plant material arranged on the support unit of the culture medium receiving container.

13. Conversion kit for converting a receptacle into a reactor suitable for the in vitro culture of plant material, wherein it comprises: a lid configured for closing an opening of said receptacle, a liquid culture medium receiving container for receiving a liquid culture medium inside the receptacle, said container being attached to the lid of the receptacle in a position suitable for use, and including said lid at least one culture medium inlet and/or outlet conduit communicating with the container to be able to fill and/or empty said container through said conduit, and a support unit for supporting the plant material on the receiving container of the culture medium.

14. A kit according to claim 13, wherein the culture medium receiving container is attached to the lid so as to extend longitudinally from one face of the lid body.

15. A kit according to claim 13, wherein the lid includes a support base adapted to be able to maintain the culture medium receiving container in a stable horizontal position.

16. A kit according to claim 13, wherein said support unit for supporting the plant material comprises at least one supporting body capable of being removably coupled to the liquid culture medium receiving container, said supporting body being configured to allow contact of the liquid culture medium with the plant material.

17. A kit according to claim 13, comprising fastening means for fastening the plant material when said material grows on the receiving container of the culture medium.

18. A kit according to claim 17, wherein said fastening means are configured in the form of a grid, the lattice of said grid being capable of supporting the base of the plant material capable of growing on the supporting body coupled to the container for receiving the culture medium.

19. A kit according to claim 13, wherein said lid is configured for closing and sealing by screwing a threaded opening of a commercially available receptacle.

20. Method for culturing in vitro plant material by the reactor system according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: a) injecting a liquid culture medium into the receptacle through at least one inlet conduit provided in a lid attached to a container receiving the culture medium, b) maintaining temporarily immersed in the liquid culture medium a plant material previously deposited on the receiving container that is attached to the lid, c) actively or passively draining the liquid culture medium through an outlet conduit provided in the lid, d) after step c), accessing the receiving container attached to the lid to perform cutting and collecting from outside the receptacle.

21. Method according to claim 20, comprising the step of modifying the interior atmosphere of the receptacle by injecting gas through at least one conduit of the lid communicating with the interior of the receptacle.

22. Method according to claim 20, wherein the lid includes a support base adapted to be able to maintain the receptacle and the container for receiving the culture medium in a stable horizontal position while said receptacle remains attached to the lid.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] For a better understanding of what has been stated, some drawings are attached in which, schematically and only by way of non-limiting example, a practical case of realization is represented.

[0044] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the culture receptacle of the reactor system of the present invention.

[0045] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a fastening means for fastening the plant material in the form of a grid forming a lattice.

[0046] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of some support means for supporting plant material on the culture medium receiving container, which are configured as a platform provided with a number of perforations to allow upflow of the liquid culture medium.

[0047] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a lid and liquid culture medium receiving container assembly, which is attached to the lid by its inner face. This lid is adapted to close the opening of the receptacle in FIG. 1.

[0048] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view schematically depicting the assembly of the reactor system with the claimed kit.

[0049] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the reactor system in the culture phase, when the culture medium receiving container is fed from the outside through a conduit provided in the lid to perform temporary immersion of the plant material. The arrows indicate the entry of the liquid medium that causes the simultaneous exit of air from inside the culture receptacle.

[0050] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the reactor system in culture phase, when the liquid culture medium leaves the container through the lid conduit. The arrows indicate the outlet of the liquid medium that causes the simultaneous entry of air into the culture receptacle.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0051] A preferred embodiment of the system and kit of the present invention is described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.

[0052] As discussed in the preceding sections, the present invention provides a reactor system and a conversion kit suitable for converting a conventional receptacle 1, as shown in FIG. 1, into a reactor for the in vitro culture of plant material.

[0053] In the embodiment described, the kit consists of the following components; [0054] a lid 2 for closing the receptacle 1 where the culture is carried out, [0055] a container 4 receiving the liquid culture medium (not shown) that is attached to the lid 2, [0056] a platform shaped body 6 with perforations 6a that allows the plant material 11 to be supported on the container 4, [0057] a body 7 in the form of a grid that can be removably attached to the body 6 or support platform, in order to fasten the base of the plant material 11 and facilitate the cutting and harvesting of the shoots of said plant material 11, [0058] a conduit 5 for the inlet and/or outlet of the liquid culture medium through the lid 2, and [0059] two orifices 8, 9 for the inlet and/or outlet of gases from the culture receptacle 1.

[0060] The lid 2 can be, for example, a lid 2 provided with a thread 2a and adapted to close and seal by threading 1a the opening 3 of the conventional receptacle 1, which in the embodiment described is a commercially available, multi-purpose receptacle 1 made of glass or polycarbonate. A sealing gasket 10 is attached to the cover 2 to ensure the sealing of the assembly.

[0061] The reactor system includes means (not shown) for pumping liquid culture medium from an external reservoir (not shown) to the receiving container 4 at a predetermined frequency.

[0062] In the embodiment described, the lid 2 has the peculiarity that it includes a support base 2b configured to be able to maintain the receptacle 1 and the culture medium receiving container 4 in a stable horizontal position. As can be seen in FIGS. 4 to 7, the culture medium receiving container 4 extends longitudinally integrally attached to the lid 2, from an inner face of said lid 2, so that it is arranged in a stable horizontal position, substantially parallel to the walls of the culture receptacle 1 a, but without contacting these walls.

[0063] As discussed in the description of the invention, this particular configuration allows the maximization of the useful culture area and also working with lower volumes of culture medium, saving cost and space.

[0064] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the assembly of lid 2 and receiving container attached to the lid 2. In this figure, it is possible to see the inclined bottom 4b for the active or passive drainage of the culture medium through an orifice that connects with the lid 2 and the liquid culture medium outlet conduit 5. The side walls of the container 4 include protrusions 4a that serve as a support base for the body 6 or platform on which the plant material is supported. These protrusions 4a are positioned at half height on the walls of the container 4, so that the body 6 or platform on which the explants are arranged can be flooded with liquid medium when the culture medium passes through the perforations 6a (see FIG. 3).

[0065] Continuing with the description of FIG. 4, it can be seen that the container 4 includes at the end that contacts the inner face of the lid 2, some raised walls 4d adapted to fit into the walls of the opening 3. Hence, spillage of liquid medium is avoided when the technician slightly tilts the reactor, or the lid 2 and receiving container 4 assembly, to carry out the cutting of the plant material.

[0066] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the grid-like body 7, provided with a lattice that is traversed by the shoots of the plant material 11 (see FIGS. 6 and 7). This lattice serves to fasten the base of the explants when the container 4 is tilted to facilitate rapid cutting and harvesting of the shoots. This grid or body 7 includes side walls 7a that are arranged on the support platform or body 6, at a certain distance from said platform.

[0067] As discussed in the description of the invention, unlike state-of-the-art reactor systems, the reactor system of the present invention has the advantage that the collection or cutting of shoots is carried out by accessing the lid 2 and receiving container 4 assembly from the outside of the receptacle 1, so that the technician can even slightly tilt this assembly to facilitate rapid cutting of the plant material 11 in different positions.

[0068] Below, it follows a description of the in vitro culture method of plant material 11 in the reactor system claimed and described in the accompanying figures.

[0069] Once the different components have been assembled following the arrangement shown schematically in FIG. 5, air filters (not shown) are connected to the gas inlet and outlet orifices 8 and 9 of the lid 2, and a tube is connected to the inlet and outlet conduit 5 of liquid culture medium. The assembly is sterilized before being used for explant culture in order to ensure sterile conditions.

[0070] After sterilization, the container 4 and lid 2 assembly is accessed inside a laminar flow cabinet and, under sterile conditions, the plant material 11 is deposited on the platform or body 6 taking advantage of the openings left by the frame of the body 7 or grid fastening the explants.

[0071] Once the plant material 11 has been deposited, the container 4 and lid 2 assembly is introduced into the culture receptacle 1 and arranged in an in vitro culture chamber, under controlled temperature, photoperiod and light intensity conditions. The liquid culture medium is then injected into the interior of the receptacle 1 through the inlet conduit 5 provided in the lid 2 until the plant material 11 is immersed in the medium. The injection is carried out periodically from an external tank (not represented) through pumping means, using timers.

[0072] During culture, the plant material 11 is temporarily immersed in accordance with the temporary immersion culture system, already known in the state of the art. The immersion phase is short, a few minutes, to moisten the explants, leaving them impregnated with culture medium. When the injection stops, the medium is drained from the inclined bottom 4b through the same conduit 5 of the lid 2 acting at this time as the outlet conduit (see FIG. 7). During the injection, the air inside the receptacle 1 exits through the orifices 8, 9 provided in the lid 2 and associated with the filters (not shown) (see FIG. 6). However, when stopping the injection and draining the medium, new air enters through the same orifices 8 and 9. If necessary, the inner atmosphere of culture receptacle 1 may be modified by injecting a gas.

[0073] The plant material 11 remains impregnated with medium for hours, growing inside the culture receptacle 1 under controlled light and temperature conditions. When it is necessary to cut or collect the plant material, the technician accesses the container 4 and lid 2 assembly, unscrewing in this case the receptacle 1. The support base 2b of the lid 2 allows the container 4 to be held in a stable horizontal position for accurate cutting.

[0074] As mentioned in the description of the invention, the culture method described allows a higher multiplication rate of the plant material 11 to be obtained, with longer shoots, higher fresh weight and larger leaves than those obtained with other culture methods using other reactor systems.

[0075] The table below shows the results from a culture test performed using a Rita® brand reactor system and the claimed reactor system.

TABLE-US-00001 Multiplication Rate No. of Fresh Number of No. of new Shoots Average weight initial shoots Obtained/ length of per explants per obtained/ Initial shoots shoot In vitro culture type receptacle receptacle Explants (mm) (g) With liquid medium 15  70-100 5 20 0.5 by means of a RITA ® reactor With liquid medium 80 400-700 8 40 0.7 by means of the reactor system of the present invention

[0076] The results show that the number of initial explants per culture receptacle is much higher in the reactor system of the present invention. The number of final shoots obtained and the average length and weight of the shoots are also higher.

[0077] Although reference has been made to a particular embodiment of the invention, it is apparent to an expert in the field that the disclosed reactor and kit system is susceptible to numerous variations and modifications, and that all of the aforementioned details may be replaced by other technically equivalent details, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the appended claims. For example, although an embodiment has been described in which the lid 2 includes a support base 2b and the receptacle 1 is of the conventional type, the same reactor system would be feasible with a receptacle that includes a support base that would also allow the assembly to be held in a stable horizontal position. In this case, it would not be necessary for the lid to have a support base, and the lid and container assembly could also be removed to perform cutting and collection, although, once removed from the receptacle, it could not by itself be kept in a stable horizontal position. Similarly, although means for supporting and fastening the plant material 11 in the form of a platform and grid have been described, similar results could be obtained with other means for supporting and fastening the plant material, provided that these means allow the plant material to also be impregnated by the culture medium stored in the cavity of the container 4 attached to the lid 2.