Plant phenomics and physiology to quantify plant performance to abiotic stress.
- Controlled environment research and breeding; new technology to automate.
- Design & management of plant performance assays; plant production to tight specifications; high throughput imaging & physiology to quantify performance
Introduction to plant tissue culture
In vitro propagation of plant cv8 parts, such as single cells, tissues and organs under sterile conditions.
Used routinely in ornamental and horticultural crop nurseries:
- Begonia
- Rosa
- Chrysanthemum
- Banana
- Potato
- Grapevine
Industry-wide application of tissue culture:
- potato seed certification schemes mandate the use of tissue culture to produce healthy primary stock.
- tissue culture of bananas provides Panama with disease-free stock.
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Applications of plant tissue culture
Disease elimination from unhealthy plants
Meristem culture to re-establish healthy stock after viral, fungal or bacterial infection.
Transport and quarantine inspection
Low volume & ease of observation, preferred form of cultivation by DAWR.
Germplasm Storage
Ease of manipulation & miniaturized plant organs convenient for preservation of live genetic resources.
Genetic improvement
Biotech approaches to genetic modification and the creation of novel variation.
Micropropagation
Rapid multiplication of clean, clonal stock.
Micropropagation
Advantages of micropropagation?
- Rapid and efficient plant multiplication at scale.
- Genetic and phenotypic uniformity (clonal multiplication).
- Production of high health plants, TC process is sterile & disease free.
- Pathogen testing for certification is readily applied in vitro.
- Note: Recent phytoplasma infection in Cannabis report in USA.
- Reduced space requirements to store hundreds of varieties.
- Reduced-risk maintenance of high value stock genotypes
Disadvantages of micropropagation?
- Set-up costs for specialized laboratory and equipment
- Skilled labor (aseptic technique).
- Cannabis may be difficult to establish in vitro and may require considerable time and effort to optimize growth conditions.
- Losses due to infection; potential for off-types/spontaneous mutations.
Micropropagation: critical factors
- Facilities: laboratory, tissue culture growth room, nursery.
- Mother plants: a source of healthy tissue to bring in vitro.
- Workflow and sterile media formulation: optimization, per variety.
- Skilled staff: majority operational costs.
1. Micropropagation: facility requirements
- Media prep room: autoclave, accurate balance, pH meter, dispenser, 4 °C storage.
- Transfer room (clean room): laminar flow hoods, instruments, and sterilizers.
- Growth room: temperature & humidity control, horticultural lighting.
- Nursery: acclimatization and transplantation of rooted plantlets.
2. Micropropagation: mother stock
- A source of optimal health, elite phenotype explants (cuttings) is required.
- A source of optimal health, elite phenotype explants (cuttings) is required.
- Explants are nodal cuttings with axillary buds (meristem culture).
- After initial establishment, mother plants can be maintained in vitro.
- Establish & maintain a genotype library of high-health stock plants efficiently.
3. Micropropagation: workflows & media
- Media prep room: autoclave, accurate balance, pH meter, dispenser, 4 °C storage.
- Transfer room (clean room): laminar flow hoods, instruments, and sterilizers.
- Growth room: temperature & humidity control, horticultural lighting.
- Nursery: acclimatization and transplantation of rooted plantlets.