Author
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Tisserat, Brent |
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Submitted to: HortTechnology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 9/15/1995 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: A variety of techniques and culture systems are currently being employed in plant tissue culture. In addition, a number of automated culture systems (i.e., sterile hydroponics) have been proposed and some have been commercially marketed with claims to replace existing culture vessels and technology. Unfortunately, no comparisons of growth rates or costs involved in employing various culture systems have been conducted to verif culture performance of these culture systems. In this study, we compared the influence of culture chamber size and medium volume on the growth of four different plants. We also conducted a cost comparison with various culture vessels and systems. In all cases, the automated systems outperformed the conventional agar culture systems. However, based on cost ($)/g fresh weight, conventional systems were more economical than automated systems. Methods presented to evaluate plant tissue culture technology will aid in future evaluations of culture systems with existing technology. Technical Abstract: The influence of the culture chamber size and medium volume on the growth rates of shoot tips of peas (Pisum sativum cv. Wando), lettuce (Lactuca salvia), Kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), and spearmint (Mentha spicata) were determined after 8 weeks of incubation. Cultures were grown in a variety of culture chambers including: culture tubes, baby food jars, Magenta GA-7 containers, one-pt Mason jars, one-qt Mason jars employed wit and without an automated plant culture system (APCS), 1/2-gal Mason jars with and without an APCS, Bio-safe chambers with an APCS, and polycarbonate culture chambers with an APCS having culture chamber volumes of 55, 143, 365, 462, 925, 1850, 6000, and 16400 ml, respectively. Plans are presented for the construction of various culture chambers used in an APCS. The APCS consisted of a peristaltic pump, media reservoir containing one-liter of liquid nutrient medium, and a culture chamber. Cultures grown nwith an APCS consistently produced higher fresh weights than growing cultures on any of the agar culture systems tested. Growth rates varied considerably depending on the plant species and culture system tested. Peas, lettuce, and spearmint exhibited flowering only when grown in the APCS. A cost comparison using the APCS vs. various conventional tissue culture systems is presented. |
