Module 10 - Micropropagation Flashcards
How many plants per year can be propagated from one plant using micropropagation?
1 million!
The growth of a plant tissue in sterile nutrient media in small containers using aseptic techniques is called:
Plant tissue culture
What are aseptic techniques?
Techniques used to control the environment
Define micropropagation
The production of new plants through tissue culture
Where should the tissue from the mother/donor plant come from?
Increased cell division ie. meristems
What are 4 applications of tissue culture?
Production of natural materials
Genetic improvement of crops
Production of plants with no disease
Quick multiplication of plants (microprop)
What’s the biggest limiter of micropropagation?
Financial investment, salaries of employees. Also some plants do not micropropagate easily or at all!
What is an explant?
tissue from the mother/donor plant
What are the requirements of an explant?
Mother plant is true to type and disease free
What is used for surface sterilization?
10% ethanol or bleach and water solution to get rid of microorganisms on the surface
What are the 4 stages of micropropagation?
i. establishment of explant
ii. shoot growth
iii. root growth
iv. acclimatization
At which stage does the plant become able to fully produce its own food?
iv. – before this there must be nutrients in the growth medium
Which stage includes media that have high auxin/cytokinin ratio?
iii, root growth
After 6 weeks callus tissue is placed in a different nutrient medium with a:
low auxin/cytokinin ratio, stage ii
What is callus tissue?
non specialized tissue, just cells dividing
When can multiplication of plants be achieved?
through stages i-iii
What lab facilities are required for microprop?
- Media preparation room
- Transfer room
- Anteroom
- Culture room / Growing room
What documentation is necessary for a microprop operation?
- Media prep sheet
- Production sheet
- Plant transfer sheet
Describe the media prep room:
Contains all the materials needed to produce the nutrient medium
What is the autoclave?
Machine that makes sure there are no bacteria, fungus, etc. Temp at 121 degrees celsius, 15 psi, 15-20 mins
What does “inorganic” salt mean?
no carbon
Describe the transfer room:
- where aseptic techniques to transfer plants to growth media takes place.
- HEPA filter
- limited movement
What is the anteroom?
Where staff change clothes and put on protective equipment
