Plant Tissue Culture - Reproduction, Media, and Growth Requirements

Flashcards covering plant reproduction strategies, flower anatomy, essential media components (macro/micro nutrients), and the effects of plant growth regulators like auxins and cytokinins.

Sexual reproduction

A process using gametes (egg and sperm) that fuse to form a zygote, producing offspring genetically different from the parent(s).

Asexual (vegetative) reproduction

The production of new individuals from roots, stems, or leaves without gamete fusion, resulting in offspring that are genetically very similar or identical to the parent.

Explants

Small pieces of plant tissue used in tissue culture to generate large numbers of identical plants with desirable traits.

Pollination

The delivery step in plant reproduction where pollen lands on the stigma.

Fertilisation

The fusion step occurring after pollination when the sperm from the pollen reaches the ovule and fuses with the egg.

Anther

The part of the stamen that produces male gametes, known as pollen.

Stigma

The part of the pistil that receives pollen and helps guide it toward the ovary.

Murashige and Skoog (MS)

The standard plant tissue culture medium invented in $1962$ that is widely used for many plant species.

Macronutrients

Essential elements needed in large amounts, such as $N$, $P$, and $K$, which provide building blocks for cell division, growth, and metabolism.

Micronutrients

Elements needed in small amounts that act as enzyme cofactors and support hormone regulation and chlorophyll formation.

Nitrogen ($N$)

A macronutrient essential for amino acids and nucleic acids; a deficiency leads to stunted growth and chlorosis.

Phosphorus ($P$)

A macronutrient needed for $ATP$ production, energy transfer, and root development.

Magnesium ($Mg$)

The central atom in chlorophyll required for photosynthesis.

Calcium ($Ca$)

A macronutrient required for cell wall stability; deficiency leads to necrosis of growing tips.

Iron ($Fe$)

A micronutrient essential for chlorophyll synthesis; deficiency causes severe chlorosis.

Zinc ($Zn$)

A micronutrient required for hormone regulation, specifically auxin synthesis; deficiency leads to distorted leaves.

Auxins

Plant growth regulators that promote cell elongation, cell division, and stimulate root formation.

Cytokinins

Plant growth regulators that promote cell division and stimulate shoot formation.

High auxin : low cytokinin ratio

A hormone balance that favors root formation, encourages callus formation, and leads to less differentiated tissues.

Low auxin : high cytokinin ratio

A hormone balance that favors shoot formation and promotes bud initiation.

Balanced auxin : cytokinin ratio

A hormone balance that encourages callus growth without strong organ formation, where cells divide but do not specialise.

Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA)

An auxin used in the provided lab media at a concentration of $0.5\,ppm$.

6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP)

A cytokinin used in the provided lab media at a concentration of $1.0\,ppm$.

Vitrification

A physiological disorder in tissue culture resulting from macronutrient imbalance, characterized by poor regeneration and weak growth.

Hardening

The final step in the plant tissue culture process, following rooting.