01912naa a2200253 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001910000170006024500800007726000090015752012830016665000120144965000200146165000110148165000180149265000110151065000220152165000110154365300130155465300120156765300120157970000160159177300510160716484451999-12-02       1990    bl ---       0--  u    #d1 aSMITH, M. K.  aCurrent applications of tissue culture in plant propagation and improvement  c1990  aPlant tissue culture involves the culture of all types of plant cells, tissues and organs under aseptic conditions. this definition also extends to the culture of excised embryos and to protoplast culture. An overview to tissue culture techniques and their applications in plant propagation and genetic improvement of plants is presented. The areas under review include: (1) embryo culture, (2) meristem culture, (3) micropropagation, (4) somatic embryogenesis, (5) somaclonal variation, (6) in vitro selection, (7) anther culture and (8) protoplast culture. Problems and liminations of each of the techniques are also discussed. Examples are given of work that has been undertaken or that is currently in progress on the application of these techniques to the improvement of Queensland's subtropical horticultural industries. Key examples are: 9!) embryo culture to facilitate incorporation of genes conferring disease-resistance from wild Cucurbita species into cultivated varieties, 92) meristem culture for virus elimination in strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa) and sweet potato (Ipomoea batata), (3) micropropagation for rapid increase in new varieties of ginger (Zingiber officinale) and pineapple (Ananas comosus) to enable more rapid field evaluation and early release.  aAbacaxi  aAnanás Comosus  aBanana  aCarica Papaya  aMamão  aMicropropagação  aVírus  aMusa spp  aPlantas  aTecidos1 aDREW, R. A.  tAust. J. Plant Physiol.gv.17, p.267-289, 1990