Micropropagation of Horticultural Crops

Description

Micropropagation is most widely used commercialized global application of plant biotechnology in horticulture. Micropropagation is suitable for the rapid and large-scale clonal multiplication of elite germplasm. The technique has been referred as micropropagation because the size of the tissue in culture is very minute as compared to conventional vegetative cutting or any other plant part. The meristem explant used for micropropagation is about 0.1-0.5 mm size having only one or two leaf primordia. Micro-propagation holds a great promise in fast multiplication of fruit and nut crops, which are invariably propagated asexually to meet the ever increasing demand for adequate and timely supply of clean planting material. It also induces precocity in flowering, precision timing uniformity and often increases yield. Micropropagation is the asexual propagation of plants using the techniques of plant tissue culture (PTC). Plant tissue culture refers to growing and differentiation of cells, tissues, and organs isolated from the mother plant, on artificial solid or liquid media under aseptic and controlled conditions. The small organs or pieces of tissue plants used in PTC are called explants. The contributors of the book are eminent scientists, policy makers and managers. The book will be useful for students, researchers, policy makers and for industry.