What is the major advantage of producing plants by micropropagation?
Micropropagation is an in vitro method of culturing apical shoots, axillary buds and meristems on suitable nutrient medium producing a large number of genetically identical disease-resistant progeny of plants in short duration using plant tissue culture. Stages of micropropagation: Selection and preparation of the mother plant- sterilization of the plant tissue take place. Initiation of the culture – explants placed into the growth medium.Multiplication- explants transferred to shoot media.Rooting- explants transferred to root media.Transfer to soil – explants returned to the soil, hardened off. Some major advantages of producing plants by micropropagation are as follows: Micropropagation helps in the propagation of a large number of plants in a short period in less space.A single node will produce a shoot within 4-6 weeks that has 4-6 nodes.Each plantlet can be subcultured to produce another 4-6 plants each.The plants produced are genetically identical (cloned) to the mother plant.It helps in the production of healthier plantlets, which exhibit better disease-resisting powers.Plants can be obtained throughout the year.Sterile plants can be multiplied by this method.It is an economical and easy method of plant propagation.It helps to conserve rare and endangered plant species. Final Answer Micropropagation is an in vitro method of producing a large number of genetically identical and disease-resistant plants in a short duration using plant tissue culture. It helps to produce healthier plants and also helps to conserve rare plants that are threatened.
