Abstract
Gardenia callus was induced in MS medium containing $10{\;}{\mu}M$ of 2,4 diphenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D), $1{\;}{\mu}M$ kinetin, and 3% sucrose in the dark. $B_5$ medium was identified to be the most adequate medium for cell growth. Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) was better growth regulator than 2,4-D not only for cell growth but slso for carotenoid production. Ligt also played a critical role on synthesis of carotenoid. Gardenia cells grown in $B_5$ medium could utilize a polysaccharide, soluble starch, as a carbon source. The cell growth was stimulated in $B_5$ medium fortified with 0.2% yeast extract. The optimum pH for cell growth was 5.7. High density cultures can be maintained by increasing inoculum size and medium concentration accordingly. Specific growth rate and mass doubling time were 0.095 $day^{-1}$ and 7.3 days, respectively. The cell immobilized in alginate tends to formulate more enlarged vacuoles containing yellow pigment compared with those of suspended cell. Carotenoid content of immobilized cell was about $264.4{\;}{\mu}g/g$ fresh weight (F.W.) corresponding twice of the content of suspended cell ($112.08{\;}{\mu}g/g$ F.W.). The color of gardenia cell was shifted from yellow to red when carbohydrase-secreting fungus, Trichoderma reesei, was co-cultivated with gardenia cells.