Micropropagation: Definition, Introduction, Parts, Structure, Characteristics

What Is Micropropagation?

Micropropagation is one of the techniques of vegetative propagation in which the in vitro culture of tissue cultures of plants helps produce a large number of plants with identical genetic makeup from only a small piece of plant tissue. It uses the totipotency of the plant cells, which provides the capacity for plant regeneration into a whole plant in controlled laboratory conditions.

Micropropagation techniques in agriculture and horticulture help raise high-quality and disease-free plant varieties manyfold. The technique is utilised in the conservation of the rarest and most endangered plant species and finds application in the large-scale production of ornamental plants and crops with genetic modifications.

Micropropagation allows for the mass production of uniform and disease-free plants, hence ensuring that elite plant varieties increase quickly. This helps in the conservation and production of pathogen-free plants and the propagation of plants that are difficult to grow through conventional means.

Also read:

• Reproduction
• Morphallaxis
• Sporulation

Principles Of Micropropagation

This is a mode of asexual reproduction. The micropropagation technique is based on two principles: cellular totipotency and the requirement of sterile aseptic conditions. Some basic points are discussed below:

• Every plant cell is totipotent, i.e., it can reconstitute into a whole plant under the right conditions.
• Regrowth regulators such as auxins and cytokinins are necessary to control the course of regeneration.
• Explants (culture parts of plants) may be leaves, stems, roots, or meristematic tissues.
• Aseptic techniques are used to avoid microbial contamination in tissue culture.
• Surface sterilisation of explants is usually accomplished by treatment with ethanol or sodium hypochlorite (bleach).
• All media, culture vessels, and instruments need to be sterilised via autoclaving or filtration.
• A laminar flow chamber offers a clean environment for explant and medium handling.

Stages Of Micropropagation

In micropropagation, there are four main stages of the process.

Methods Of Micropropagation

Micropropagation consists of several techniques. All of them are discussed below:

Factors That Affect Micropropagation

Factors Affecting the Success of Micropropagation are discussed below:

• Type and physiological condition of explant – Young, actively growing tissues respond well in culture.
• Medium composition – The Presence of required nutrients, vitamins, and growth regulators is of prime importance.
• Plant growth regulator concentration and type – Balance between auxins and cytokinins determines shoot/root development.
• Environmental factors – Conditions such as light, temperature, and humidity play an important role in influencing growth and development.
• Aseptic environment and sterility – Bacteria can be prevented or entirely depend on the process of propagation.

Applications Of Micropropagation

The applications of micropropagation in plant sciences are many. Some of them are discussed below:

• Mass propagation of elite plants – Produces high quantities of high-quality, true-to-type plants at a fast rate.
• Conservation of threatened and endangered species – Preserves biodiversity of plants through the multiplication of endangered species.
• Production of disease-free plants – Particularly helpful in plantation crops such as sugarcane, banana, and potato through meristem tissues culture.
• Genetic transformation and crop improvement help the regeneration of transgenic plants in biotechnology studies.
• Ornamental plant industry and horticulture – Commonly used in propagating ornamental plants such as orchids and ferns for commercial intent.

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Micropropagation

Micropropagation is a powerful plant biotechnology tool that can help the rapid multiplication of genetically similar and disease-free plants under in vitro conditions. It is particularly useful in propagating rare, endangered, or economically valuable plant species. Micropropagation has several benefits, including high efficiency and year-round production. It also has some drawbacks, such as initial high costs, somaclonal variation risk, and specialised personnel. Both of them are discussed below:

Advantages

• Rapid Multiplication, Uniformity, Disease-Free Plants

• Under this method, large numbers of plants can be produced within a very short period.

• Clonal propagation ensures the production of identical plants.

• It produces plants free from pathogens.

Disadvantages

• High Cost, Technical Expertise, Risk of Somaclonal Variation

• It requires a special type of equipment and trained personnel.

• It requires expertise in the area of tissue culture techniques.

• However, genetic variation can also occur in culture.

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