Tissue culture

The idea

In tissue culture, cells from a plant's growing tip are placed in an artificial medium where they divide into a callus, which is moved to a hormone medium for growth and differentiation, giving plantlets that grow in soil.

A plant from a few cells

In a laboratory, scientists take a few cells from a plant and grow a whole new plant from them.

Where do you think the cells are taken from?

• The growing tip of the plant
• The seed coat
• A dry fallen leaf

Tissue culture steps

Press Next step.

From cells to a plant

The plant cells divide into a callus. The callus is moved to a medium with hormones, where it grows and its cells become different kinds. The plantlets that form are put into soil. Many plants can be grown from one parent in disease-free conditions, and the technique is commonly used for ornamental plants.

In tissue culture, cells from a plant's growing tip are placed in an artificial medium where they divide into a callus, which is moved to a hormone medium for growth and differentiation, giving plantlets that grow in soil.

Notes

Tissue culture: cells from a plant's growing tip divide into a callus in an artificial medium, move to a hormone medium for growth and differentiation, and the plantlets then grow in soil.

Check yourself

From which part of a plant are the cells taken for tissue culture?

What is a callus?

What is the callus moved to next?

What is the use of tissue culture, according to the book?

• The seed coat. The book says tissue is removed or cells are separated from the growing tip of a plant.
• The growing tip — correct. Yes!
• A fruit that has fallen. The cells come from the growing tip of a plant.
• A fully grown plant. A callus is a small group of cells. The mature plant grows later from plantlets.
• The seed of the plant. A callus forms from dividing cells in an artificial medium, not from a seed.
• A small group of cells formed when the cells divide rapidly in an artificial medium — correct. Yes!
• Another medium containing hormones for growth and differentiation — correct. Yes!
• The soil, straight away. The plantlets are placed in soil after the callus has been moved to the hormone medium.
• Back to the parent plant. The callus is transferred to another medium containing hormones.
• It makes plants that grow without cells. Tissue culture starts with cells taken from a plant.
• Many plants can be grown from one parent in disease-free conditions — correct. Yes!
• It works only for animals. In tissue culture, new plants are grown from plant tissue or cells.