Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
1.6 MICROPROPAGATION
Fast, large-scale vegetative multiplication of plants by application of tis-
sue culture technique is known as micropropagation. It is used as an ac-
celerated form of clonal propagation and usually conducted in growth
chambers. The propagation is completed in several stages under controlled
conditions and through this technique large quantity of disease free quality
planting materials can be supplied within stipulated time. HDP of crops
has necessitated faster multiplication of plants through this technique.
Each step of the process can be manipulated by control of the tissue cul-
ture environment. Many people consider it as a biotechnology component
as it is helpful in faster multiplication of a newly bred, superior cultivar
or regeneration of genotypes conserved or kept under cryopreservation.
In a situation, when large scale crop devastation occurs due to climatic
catastrophes this can be a powerful tool for producing large number of
plants of a particular clone or clones. Since most of the operations are
performed under room conditions under sterile conditions, the impact of
climate change on efficiency of production or multiplication is lesser in
magnitude. However, hardening of TC plants at later stages suffers from
weather aberrations. Although hardening is also done under polyhouse
or nethouse conditions, storms/hurricanes can tear the coverings of these
structures and cause substantial damage.
It is expected that more than 100 tissue culture units are operational in
public and private sectors in our country, out of which 25% have gone for
commercial production of plants. Although all these tissue culture units
are having high production capacity, there is a cause for concern because
the target crops are the same in all. Many institutions are working on de-
veloping protocols in different crops. However, today well-tested proto-
cols are available only in case of banana, papaya, strawberry, orchids and
anthuriums. Protocols are also available but not yet commercially adopted
in respect of apple, citrus, black pepper, potato, ginger, rose and grape.
Bulk of tissue-cultured material being exported is primarily of ornamental
plants for which the domestic demand is limited.
1.7 MICRO-IRRIGATION/FERTIGATION
With apparent change in climatic conditions growth rate of plants is ex-
pected to be faster due to increased plant temperature, which reduces the
