Abstract
We show that the existence of diffusional resistance due to the presence of a solid phase can have a positive effect on the metabolic reactions of plant cells. In this case the efficiency of metabolic reactions, defined as the ratio of rate of production of biomass of aggregated cells/rate of production of biomass of dispersed cells, can be greater than unity for a certain range of aggregate sizes for both solid spheres (common plant cell aggregates) and hollow spheres (e.g.Volvox aggregates). This means that, under appropriate conditions, plant cells tend to stay in the aggregated form to improve the efficiency of their metabolic reactions. The result of the present analysis provides an explanation as to why aggregates of plant cells are observed under typical culture conditions.
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Hsu, JP., Hsu, WC. & Tsao, HK. Diffusion-enhanced bioreactions: A hypothetical mechanism for plant cell aggregation. Bltn Mathcal Biology 55, 869–889 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02460690
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02460690