Agricultural Reviews

Photoautotropism is a natural mode of nutrition in plants. However, this mode of nutrition is supressed in plants where photomixotrophy is induced under tissue culture laboratory conditions and provision of readymade carbon in the form of sugar in nutrition medium. The micropropagation procedure is carried out in aseptic conditions and the micropropagated plantlet needs to be acclimatized before its transfer to the external environment, as most of the necessary plant structures for the survival of the plant are lacking. However, the advent of the photoautotrophic micropropagation, much scope for development of less labour intensive, automated tissue culture procedure leading to development of hardened plants which will not require acclimatization. Photoautotrophic micropropagation is carried out using the natural ability of plant to prepare its own food in controlled environment. Various factors that affect photoautotrophic micropropagation like carbon source, light intensity, humidity, support material and CO₂ concentration have been elaborated.