In Vitro Culture of Higher Plants

Focusing on "in vitro" culture of higher plants, this work presents a wide-ranging account of techniques and applications, while paying special attention to educational aspects. Typical methodological aspects are given in the first part: laboratory set-up, composition and preparation of media, sterilization of media and plant material, isolation and (sub)culture, mechanization, the influence of plant and environmental factors on growth and development, the transfer from test-tube to soil and aids to study. The question of why "in vitro" culture is practised is covered in the second part: embryo culture, germination of orchid seeds, mericloning of orchids, production of disease-free plants, vegetative propagation, somaclonal variation, test-tube fertilization, haploids, genetic manipulation, other applications in phytopathology and plant breeding, and secondary metabolites.