Use of Alternative Components in Cost-Effective Media for Mass Production of Clonal Plants

Abstract

The demand for economically important plants, particularly medicinal and horticultural crops has increased drastically. On a large scale, the availability of propagules for the cultivation of these crops remains a challenge since plant parts such as seeds, rhizomes, and corms needed for propagation are often the economically important parts in high demand. For decades, tissue culture techniques have been used to bridge the supply versus demand gap for both medicinal plants and horticultural crops. However, mass propagation of plants in vitro is hampered by the costs associated with such in vitro techniques. In tissue culture protocols, the cost of prepared growing media, amongst other inputs, can be a limitation. Murashige and Skoog (MS), Linsmaier and Skoog (LS), Gamborg (B5), Lloyd and McCown (LM) Woody Plant, Driver and Kuniyuki Woody (DKW), BDS, BABI as well as Nitsch and Nitsch (NN) media have been used in tissue culture as basic media for decades. Main components of these media include micro- and macronutrients, vitamins, amino acids or nitrogen supplements, source (s) of carbon, and undefined organic supplements in some cases, which are solidified by gelling or solidifying agents. To attain cost-effective protocols for mass propagation, media containing different low-cost components can be used as alternatives. However, mass propagation protocols are often species-specific or vary amongst species due to differences in nutrient requirements and plant physiology. Optimization of components is imperative for achieving low-cost high multiplication and survival rates during acclimatization. This chapter aims to explore low-cost media for mass propagation of clonal plants to sustain the agricultural industry and counteract food insecurity.