Plant Tissue Culture Techniques

Plant tissue culture is a method to propagate plants under certain scientific conditions. This technique is often used to produce the clone of a plant. Plant tissue culture technique is a newly developed method used to propagate plants in an advantageous way. It holds some benefits like quick production of clone plants, production of mature plants and regeneration of plants in the absence of seeds and pollination process.

Sterile Conditions

• These types of techniques are performed under sterile conditions and filtered layer air. Plants are naturally contaminated by small microorganisms. Hence, sterile conditions are required for this process. Many chemicals used as plant steriles are easily available in the market. One good example of this is alcohol. It is quite popular in the market as a plant sterile. There are some dangerous chemicals like mercuric chloride, which are also available in the market as plant steriles.

Growth of Explants

• The tissue obtained from the plant for this experiment is called explant. The explants are usually placed in a solid or a liquid medium, which is composed of inorganic and organic nutrients. The composition of this medium has profound effects on the morphology of tissues, which initially contribute in the growth of explants. For example, cytokinin is used to yield roots. In this way, the nutrients help in the initial stages of the growth of an explant.

Last Stages of Plant Tissue Culture

• Chemicals are widely used in plant tissue culture techniques for the growth of a specialized explant. The expertise of a tissue culturist is extremely important and helpful during this process. As the shoots emerge from the culture, they have to be sliced off. They are again rooted with auxin, which produces plantlets. When the plantlets turn into plants and are mature enough, they are transferred to a greenhouse for further growth.

Choice of Explant

• Choice of explant depends upon the environmental conditions. Tobacco is considered as a universal explant, which can grow in any part of the world. Explant also varies in rate of growth and use. The choice of explants also decides the type of plantlets--whether they are haploid or diploid. It is also necessary to examine the mother plant before using its tissue. If the mother plant has a disease, then it may transfer to the clone explant.

Uses

• There are many modern applications of plant tissue culture techniques. An important application is micro propagation. Micro propagation is a technique of saving endangered species of plants. It is immensely popular for forestry use. Large-scale production of plants is achieved in a shorter span of time. Thus, this technique has become popular for commercial use too. Hybrid types of explants and clones are produced for further scientific research. Plant tissue culture techniques will be very beneficial in the future for protecting endangered plant species.