Question

Name the technology that has helped scientists to propagate on a large scale the desired crops in a short duration. List the steps carried out to propagate the crops by the said technique.

Answer 1

Tissue culture is the technique that has helped scientists propagate the desired crops on a large scale in a short duration.

The following steps are carried out to propagate crops by tissue culture:

• Tissue culture is the process of developing a complete plant from a part of a plant. The plant part is called an explant.

• Explants can be grown in sterile conditions in special nutrient media to regenerate complete plants.

• Nutrient media contain a carbon source (such as sucrose), organic salts, vitamins, amino acids and phytohormones.

• Hence, propagation is achieved for a large number of plants in a short duration. This process is called micropropagation.

• All the plants obtained by tissue culture are called somaclones since they are genetically identical to each other as well as the parent plant.