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The Tissue Culture facility of the Ministry is located at the Union Agricultural Station. It is one of four technical
units at the Research Division. The main objective of the Tissue Culture Unit is to strengthen the propagation capability of the Ministry of Agriculture and the wider Agricultural Sector through production of
disease-free plant material via micro-propagation techniques and germplasm conservation of selected plant species through in vitro techniques. These activities include:
 investigative research,
multiplication of plantlets,
support to the Crop Protection Unit (plant quarantine services), Propagation Unit, Cut Flower
and Ornamental Project and the Food Crop Project.
Plants produced by the Tissue Culture Unit include: Anthuriums, ferns, orchids (Dendrobiums, Oncidiums,
Phaelanopsis and cattleya), yams, cush-cush, tannia, pineapples and sweet potatoes.
What is Plant Tissue Culture?
Plant tissue culture is the aseptic (free from microorganism) culture of any plant part in vitro. Tissue culture is
utilized in the field of Biotechnology. Micro-propagation is the rapid vegetative propagation of plants via tissue
culture techniques. Micro-propagation permits the manipulation of physical and chemical conditions in the production of large numbers of high quality plant material within a short period of time.
Adantages of Propagation by Tissue Culture
The elimination of diseases and the production of disease free plantlets
The rapid production of large numbers of genetically identical plantlets
Introduction of new varieties and or genotypes
Preservation of germplasm
Production of haploid plants which can be used for plant breeding
Production of plantlets from species in which plant development from seed is difficult
Infrastructure Requirements for Plant Tissue Culture
a washing area (vessels and planting material are cleaned, plantlets may be weaned)
a media preparation room ( preparation of media, storage and sterilization)
a aseptic transfer area (initiation and sub-culturing of plantlets)
an incubator or a culture room (provide plantlets in culture with temperature and light
requirement)
Equipment Used in Tissue Culture Laboratory
Analytical balance (for weighing nutrients for media)
Graduated cylinders and pipettes (for measuring stock solutions)
pH meter (to regulate pH of media)
Hot plate or stove (to heat and dissolve gelling agent)
Glass containers (for heating and dissolving media)
Dispensing devices (to dispense equal quantities of media)
A Still or de-ionizer (water needed for media)
Pressure steam sterilizer (for sterilizing instruments and media)
Transfer instruments (forceps, scalpels spatulas, blades)
Refrigerator (storage of chemicals and stock solutions)
Stereo-microscope (use for meristem culture)
Laminar Flow Hood (provide a sterile area for transfers during initiation and sub-culturing)
Media and Media Components
The composition of the cultural media is one of the most important factors in determining the growth and morphology of in vitro plants. Plants grown in vitro require similar nutrients to plants grown in the soil. The basic components of
any cultural medium are: The composition of the cultural media is one of the most important factors in determining the growth and morphology of in vitro plants. Plants grown in vitro require similar nutrients to plants grown in the soil. The
basic components of any cultural medium are: The composition of the cultural media is one of the most important factors in determining the growth and morphology of in vitro plants. Plants grown in vitro require similar nutrients to
plants grown in the soil. The basic components of any cultural medium are:
Macronutrients: There are six macronutrients, nitrogen, potassium, phosphorous, calcium,
magnesium and sulphur.
Micronutrients: They include, iron, manganese, zinc, boron, copper, molybdenum, cobalt and
iodine.
A Carbon source: The carbohydrates usually used are sucrose and glucose.
Vitamins: They are thiamin (B1) nicotinic acid, pyridoxine (B6) and myo-inositol
Growth Regulators: Both auxins (IAA, NAA) and cytokinins ( BA).
Solidifying or Gelling Agent: The two commonly used are agar and phytogel.
Several media formulations are sold prepackaged. Some of these are Murashige and Skoog Based Media, Gamborg’s
Based Media, and Orchid Tissue Culture Media. They may contain all components of the media except the carbon
source and the solidifying agent, and some may lack vitamins and or growth regulators.
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