Plants from Test Tubes

Synopsis

Thirty years ago, in vitro propagation was a new technique for producing plants, and Lydiane Kyte's Plants from Test Tubes became the standard work on the topic.The new fourth edition has been thoroughly revised and updated to reflect the many advances in science and technology, including the five accepted sequential stages of micropropagation. Ten new plants have been added. This in turn has greatly expanded the already extensive bibliography. Among the new topics that have been introduced or expanded on are embryo culture for breeding, somaclonal variation, anther culture, somatic embryogenesis, cryopreservation, and genetic engineering. More ornamental plant examples are given and many new illustrations provided, including a chronology of discoveries in micropropagation.

Summary

Chapter 1: The Importance of Plants

* Plants are essential for life on Earth, providing oxygen, food, and shelter.
* They are also used in medicine, industry, and agriculture.

Example: The discovery of the drug digoxin from the foxglove plant has been instrumental in treating heart conditions.

Chapter 2: The History of Plant Tissue Culture

* Plant tissue culture is a technique for growing plants from small pieces of plant tissue.
* It was first developed in the late 19th century, but it only became commercially viable in the 1960s.

Example: The use of tissue culture techniques to propagate orchids has made these beautiful plants more widely available.

Chapter 3: The Basics of Plant Tissue Culture

* Plant tissue culture involves taking a small piece of plant tissue, such as a root tip, leaf, or stem, and placing it in a sterile nutrient medium.
* The tissue will grow and multiply, forming a new plant.

Example: Tissue culture is used to propagate rare or endangered plants, such as the Madagascar periwinkle, which produces a valuable cancer drug.

Chapter 4: The Applications of Plant Tissue Culture

* Plant tissue culture has a wide range of applications, including:
* Propagation: Growing new plants from existing ones
* Micropropagation: Producing large numbers of plants rapidly
* Genetic engineering: Modifying the genes of plants to improve their traits
* Cryopreservation: Preserving plant germplasm for future use

Example: Tissue culture techniques are used to produce disease-resistant tomato plants that can withstand the devastating tomato mosaic virus.

Chapter 5: The Future of Plant Tissue Culture

* Plant tissue culture is a rapidly growing field with the potential to revolutionize agriculture and other industries.
* As technology improves, the applications of plant tissue culture will continue to expand.

Example: Tissue culture techniques are being developed to produce plants that can tolerate extreme drought and salinity, which will be essential for feeding a growing global population in the face of climate change.