Growth Characteristics and Morphogenesis of the Liverwort Marchantia paleacea Suspension Cells

Suspension cultured cells of the liverwort Marchantia paleacea var. diptera (MpK) were investigated to clarify the relationship between morphogenesis and the mode of utilization of nitrogen sources in different media. MpK cells grew vigorously in a Murashige and Skoog's liquid medium with 4% glucose in the light condition. Thallus regeneration from cultured cells occurred in culture medium with 0.5% glucose and 0.1% CaCO3 or 10mM malic acid. Addition of CaCO3 or malic acid to the medium was necessary to prevent the pH of the medium dropping rapidly to a very acidic value over the duration of the culture. The cause for the extreme acidification of the medium was that the cells regenerating thalli preferentially utilize ammonium as a nitrogen source without the depletion of nitrate in the early phase of culture.