Artificial clones in plants

artificial clone meaning

• clone produced by a method not available to plants

• e.g labs

micropropagation

• callus produced from nutrient rich medium

• callus placed in another medium containing essential growth regulators

• plantlet formed

process of micropropagation

• remove meristem tissue from tips

• place explant in culture medium

• forms a callus, divide callus into clumps

• plant growth substances to encourage differentiation

• transfer to compost

tissue culture

• explant placed on nutrient medium

• form callus, single cells removed and placed on medium with plant hormones

• shoots transferred to medium and growing plants moved to greenhouse

advantages

• large number of plants produced

• plants that are difficult to grow from seed can be made

• growth of pathogen free individuals

• number of rare species increased

disadvantage

• lack of genetic variation

• all genetically identical so vulnerable to climate change/disease

• complex aesptic procedures