Biotechnology Laboratory, Division of Horticulture, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam - 793103, India.
Present address: 1Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Assam Agricultural University, Arunachal, Cachar-788025, Assam.
Tissue cultured shoots or plantlets share certain characteristic features that are inconsistant with the development under greenhouse or field conditions. The greenhouse and field have substantially lower relative humidities, higher light levels and septic environments that are stressfull to micropropagated plants compared to in vitro conditions. The benefits of any micropropagation system can, however, only be fully realised by the successful transfer of plantlets from tissue culture vessels to the ambient conditions found ex vitro. The tissue culture plants are often characterised by abnormal leaf morphology and anatomy, poor photosynthetic efficiency, malfunctioning of stomata and a marked decrease in epicuticular waxes. This review will examine the anatomical, morphological and physiological factors that account for the fragility of cultured plants when removed from culture.
