Context:
Tissue culture lab to generate saplings of threatened or rare native Delhi trees.
More in News:
- It will be set up at the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary.
- The species identified are Hingot, Khair, Bistendu, Siri, Palash etc.
Plant Tissue Culture (PTC):
- It refers to the cultivation of undifferentiated plant cells, tissues or organs on synthetic media under an aseptic environment and suitable controlled physical conditions.
- It is based upon the totipotency characteristic of a plant cell.
Totipotency is the ability of a vegetative cell to divide and differentiate into any type of specialized cell.
- Types of PTC –
- Organ Culture: Any part of the plant (root, stem, leaf, and flower) is used as an explant for culturing purposes.
- Seed culture: The explants are obtained from the plants that are already cultured and grown under in vitro conditions.
- Embryo culture: The embryo is isolated and cultured under in vitro conditions.
- Applications of PTC: to obtain disease-free plants, to obtain rapid multiplication of plants, Large-scale fabrication of artificial seeds, etc.
Source: Hindustan Times
Previous Year Question
Consider the following:
1. Bacteria
2. Fungi
3. Virus
Which of the above can be cultured in artificial/synthetic medium?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2021 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a)
Explanation:
Unlike bacteria and fungi, viruses need a living host to grow. Only options 1 and 2 are correct.
