Artificial clones and agriculture notes

Artificial clones and agriculture

• Design the production of artificial clones of plants from tissue culture

• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of plant cloning in agriculture

• take cuttings between leaf joints- plant hormones, root growth, covered in clear plastic to reduce water loss

• grafting- short section of woody plant (scion)- joined to already growing root/ stem. Side grafting - cut to match wedge of rootstock. Vascular tissue is lined up and bindings are wrapped around until growth supports grafted section. Used to combine favorable features of two plants.

Artificial propagation-

• large scale cloning

• selection of desirable traits from in vitro - decreasing the need for space for field space

• reproduction of plants without having to wait for seed production

• rapid propagation is possible for species that have long generation times, low levels of seed production or seeds that do not readily germinate.

• Enables preservation of pollen and cell collections- plants may be propagated

• Allows international exchange of sterilised plant materials.

• Helps eliminate plant diseases trhough careful stock selection and sterile technique during propagation

• Overcomes seasonal restrictions for germination

• Enables cold storage of large numbers of viable plants in small spaces

Some plants do not reproduce well from cuttings or grafts.  

Usage of propagation- plant tissue culture  - huge numbers of genetically identical plants - large stock, fast, disease free

Micropropagation by callus…