How is tissue culture performed in the propagation of plants?
Tissue culture is a general term used for the maintenance or growth of tissues in vitro (meaning in glass), and can refer to either animal or plant tissues). In vitro propagation, or micropropagation, refers to the propagation of plants in a controlled artificial environment, using plastic or glass culture vessels such as petri dishes or bottles, aseptic (sterile) techniques, and a defined growing medium. First a growing medium is made – it contains all the nutrients a plant requires for growth: salts, minerals, vitamins (growth factors), hormones (growth regulators), sucrose (sugar as a carbohydrate source), water and agar, a solidifying agent. A small volume of the medium is put in a glass jar and, with the lid screwed on, it is steam sterilised under pressure to sterilise it. Second, the plant is prepared for introduction to tissue culture – called induction or initiation. A piece of the plant, usually a shoot tip or piece of stem, 3-5 cm long, is cut off the plant you wish to propa
