Tissue culture: an introduction to a useful technique in root crop research in Papua New Guinea

Abstract

Tissue culture is the technique of growing plantlets (small plants) in small bottles or vials (small glass or plastic tubes) (see Figure 1(a)). It is also called in vitro propagation. The plants are not grown in soil but are grown in a 'nutrient medium' which may be a liquid or a solid jelly-like substance. The nutrient medium contains all the minerals, hormones and other chemicals that are necessary for plant tissue to grow and develop.