Summary
Growing whole plants from small explants on sterile media with defined hormones, enabling cloning.
In depth
Explants on media with auxin and cytokinin form callus (undifferentiated cells), then shoots and roots depending on the hormone ratio. Used for mass propagation (orchids, bananas), virus-free plants and transformation. Plants are totipotent.
Sterile conditions are essential. Callus can be induced from explants; adjusting hormones directs organogenesis. Applications: meristem culture produces virus-free plants and protoplast fusion creates hybrids.
Key idea: plants can regenerate from single differentiated cells because they retain totipotency.
Plant cells are totipotent: a single cell can regenerate a whole plant, shown by Steward in carrot in the 1950s. Skoog and Miller (1957) showed that high cytokinin to auxin ratio promotes shoots and the opposite promotes roots. Sterile technique is essential because media is rich in sugar. Micropropagation produces thousands of identical plantlets from a meristem tip, which is also virus-free.
Applications include mass production of orchids, bananas and potatoes, rescuing endangered species, producing haploids from anther culture, protoplast fusion, somatic embryos in artificial seeds, secondary metabolite production (shikonin, taxol) and gene transfer. Somaclonal variation may arise. Cryopreservation stores germplasm.
Example: most commercial orchids and bananas used in the trade are produced by tissue culture.
Frequently asked questions
What is Plant Tissue Culture?
Growing whole plants from small explants on sterile media with defined hormones, enabling cloning.
Which area of biology covers Plant Tissue Culture, and how advanced is it?
Plant Tissue Culture is one of the 56 topics in Plant Biology. It is rated Advanced, so it suits learners who want specialist depth. Related topics in this area include Monocots vs Dicots, Plant Hormones, Apical Dominance.
Can you give an example of Plant Tissue Culture?
Micropropagation produces thousands of clones from one plant.
What should I learn before Plant Tissue Culture?
Work through the Beginner topics in Plant Biology first, such as Plant Kingdom, Photosynthesis, Chlorophyll, then return to Plant Tissue Culture. Advanced topics assume the Intermediate vocabulary.
What topics are related to Plant Tissue Culture?
The closest topics to Plant Tissue Culture are Monocots vs Dicots, Plant Hormones, Apical Dominance, Primary and Secondary Growth. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
How can I check that I understand Plant Tissue Culture?
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Plant Tissue Culture. To practise the whole of Plant Biology, use the Plant Biology quiz.
How is Plant Tissue Culture different from Monocots vs Dicots?
Plant Tissue Culture: Growing whole plants from small explants on sterile media with defined hormones, enabling cloning. Monocots vs Dicots: Monocots have one cotyledon, parallel leaf veins and scattered bundles; dicots have two, netted veins and ringed bundles. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
How should I study Plant Tissue Culture step by step?
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Monocots vs Dicots and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Plant Biology quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.