In this paper, effects of increasing the height of column, bubble size and gas flow rate on the growth of suspended Catharanthus roseus plant cells in a 1.5 litre bubble column were studied. Statistical characteristics of turbulence such as auto-correlation function, and auto-power spectral density function of the fluctuating liquid velocity were measured in a bubble column employing pseudo-cell-granulated agar. Calculations of turbulent shear stress were carried out. From these studies it is suggested that in plant cell suspension culture sparged with large bubbles, turbulent shear stress is probably one of the most important reasons for the inhibited cell growth and cell damage. Larger bubbles or higher gas now rates lead to the increase in shear stress and are more detrimental to plant cells.