5.17B: Describe the Process of Micropropagation (Tissue Culture) in which Explants are Grown in Vitro

MICROPROPAGATION: Method used to produce large numbers of identical plants (clones) from a selected stock plant

Example:

                           

Image showing the use of Micropropagation to grow large quantities of Plants

PROCESS OF MICROPROPAGATION:

MICROPROPAGATION

Diagram showing the Process of Micropropagation

PROCESS: In Micropropagation, specific plant tissue (typically undifferentiated shoot) is selected from stock plant and sterilised Tissue sample is then explanted and grown in petri dish containing sterile nutrient agar gel Explant is treated with growth hormones (auxins) to stimulate Shoot and Root development As a result, growing Shoot can be continuously divided and separated to form new samples Once Root and Shoot are developed, the cloned plant is then transferred to Soil, resulting in large quantities of cloned plants expressing identical characteristics to initial stock plant