The combined impact of pH and activated carbon on the elemental composition of a liquid conifer embryogenic tissue initiation medium

This study considered the elemental composition of plant tissue culture media in response to pH and two different types of activated C (AC; tissue culture and non acid-washed grades) in liquid media. When tissue culture medium is supplemented with AC the method of AC addition and pH adjustment can greatly impact the final medium pH, in turn, altering mineral availability. Over the pH range of 4–7, Cu and Zn adsorbed (95% and 50%) onto the two physically different ACs to the same extent. As the pH exceeded 5.8, precipitation became pronounced, resulting in 50% reductions in Mn and Fe and smaller reductions in Ca (20%), and P (15%), independent of AC. Non acid-washed AC released significant levels of Mg (65% increase) and Ca (10% increase) at pH 5.8 compared to the no-AC control. No adsorption was indicated for inorganic anions. Low levels for Cu and Zn are a concern when using AC, and low levels of Fe and Mn are a concern when the pH of the medium exceeds 5.8. Due to its impurity content and difficulty associated with its neutralization, non-acid-washed AC may be a poor choice for use in tissue culture medium.