Plant tissue culture and biotechnology

Abstract

Plant tissue culture has progressed steadily ever since its inception in 1902. The initial experiments related to various tissues that could sustain prolonged in vitro conditions. The differential response of the cultured tissues under variable chemical milieu provided the necessary impetus to utilize the technique in a profitable manner. Over the years efficacy of the technique became apparent when noticeable in vitro morphogenic responses could be used to unravel the mysteries of growth and differentiation. Expectedly, therefore, any morphogenic event expressed in vitro could be correlated to the specific components of the nutritive medium.
 By the 1970s the applicability of the technique came to be realized with the possibility of exploring somatic hybridization, micropropagation of recalcitrant species, haploid, and triploid plants, and finally genetic manipulations. Today, plant tissue culture has become an integral part of biotechnology and is being routinely employed for the improvement of crops and legumes- the backbone of human nutrition that can also aid in the amelioration of malnutrition of millions of sufferers. The ultimate success with the transfer of 'nif’-gene to non-leguminous plants would help save millions of dollars in chemical fertilizers which can then be profitably used for the welfare of the human race.