The growth of isolated plant or animal cells or small pieces of tissue under controlled conditions in a sterile growth medium. The medium is designed to meet the requirements of the tissue involved. Experiments varying media composition have yielded information on the nutritional needs of particular cells, this not being readily ascertained in an entire organism. Whole plants can often be regenerated from small segments of tissue or even single cells. This feature has been used commercially in the propagation of various plants, notably orchids. The regeneration of plants from meristem explants has been used to free crops of virus infection since the virus particles do not penetrate meristematic tissues. Tissue culture also has various applications in plant breeding work. For example, crosses can be made between normally incompatible plants if the embryo is 'rescued' and grown in culture before abortion can take place. See also anther culture , protoplast fusion , suspension culture , callus. |
