Download Cell and Tissue Cultures

Plant Tissue Cultures
Conditions required for plant tissue
cultures
• An original stock of cells.
• The use of aseptic techniques
when preparing media and
cultures.
• A suitable container for cell
growth.
• A growth medium providing
essential nutrients.
• Plant growth regulators e.g.
auxins and cytokinins
Features of plant cells
• Plant cells are totipotent,
unlike animal cells. Their
pattern of gene expression
means that any cell has the
potential to become any part
of the plant.
Stages to plant Tissue Culture
• The cells are often taken from the meristem, the rapidly
growing tissue at the point of the root or shoot.
• These are sterilised and placed in a nutrient solution in a
Petri dish where they multiply, forming an
undifferentiated mass of tissue, which is called callus.
• If the callus is divided up and given plant growth
regulators such as auxins and cytokinins then
differentiation takes place, roots and shoots develop,
giving rise to plantlets.
• These can be grown on in the usual way-and each is
genetically identical to the parent
Uses of Plant Tissue Cultures
Tissue culture is used to clone plants for :• Food production e.g. Large variety of potatoes
• Raw materials – Palm oil used in production of
raw materials used in soap and production of
plastics
• Energy substitutes – Plant oils produced are
now starting to be used as petroleum substitutes
• Preservation of endangered species