Aseptic Techniques in Plant Tissue Culture

Aseptic techniques in plant tissue culture from kumarkanika

Detection and control of bacterial contaminants of plant tissue cultures.

Preventing or avoiding microbial contamination of plant tissue cultures is critical to
successful micro propagation. Epiphytic and endophytic organisms can cause severe
losses to micro propagated plants at each stage of growth (Cassells. 1991; Debergh arxi
Vanderschaeghe. 1988; Leifert eot at. 1991). Bacterial contaminants are often diffiCult to
detect because they remain mostly within the plant tissue (D:ebergh and Vanderschaeghe.
1988; De Fossard and De Fossard. 1988; Viss eot al.. 1991). Contaminated plants may
have no visible symptoms. reduced multiplication and rooting rates. or may die (Leifert
et ai., 1989; 1992). Introduction of microorganisms due to poor aseptic technique or
improperly sterilized equipment can be corrected with improvements in training or
equipment handling. but eliminating internal contaminants is more problematic (Buckley et al.. 1995).

Procedures for producing aseptic cultures require attention to some or all of the
following: 1) indexing explants and cultures for