Automation And Environmental Control In Plant Tissue Culture

Automation and Environmental Control in Plant Tissue Culture rigorously explores the new challenges faced by modern plant tissue culture researchers and producers worldwide: issues of cost efficiency, automation, control, and optimization of the in vitro microenvironment. This book achieves a critical balance between the economic, engineering and biological viewpoints, and presents well-balanced, unique, and clearly organized perspectives on current initiatives in the tissue culture arena. Each chapter offers guidelines leading towards an exhaustive, unprecedented level of control over in vitro growth, based on emerging technologies of robotics, machine vision, environmental sensors and regulation, and systems analysis. Unlike other tissue culture books which focus on specific crops and techniques, this book spans the broad range of major tissue culture production systems, and advances evidence on how some underrated aspects of the process actually determine the status of the end product. Key researchers from industry and academia have joined to give up-to-date research evidence and analysis. The collection comprises an essential reference for industrial-scale tissue culture producers, as well as any researcher interested in optimizing in vitro production.

The genesis of the volume, Plant Biotechnology and Molecular Markers, has been the occasion of the retirement of Professor Sant Saran Bhojwani from the Department of Botany, University of Delhi. For Professor Bhojwani, retirement only means relinquishing the chair as being a researcher and a teacher which has always been a way of life to him. Professor Bhojwani has been an ardent practitioner of modern plant biology and areas like Plant Biotechnology and Molecular Breeding have been close to his heart. The book contains original as well as review articles contributed by his admirers and associates who are experts in their area of research. While planning this contributory book our endeavour has been to incorporate articles that cover the entire gamut of Plant Biotechnology, and also applications of Molecular Markers. Besides articles on in vitro fertilization and micropropagation, there are articles on forest tree improvement through genetic engineering. Considering the importance of conservation of our precious natural wealth, one article deals with cryopreservation of plant material. Chapter on molecular marker considers DNA indexing as markers of clonal fidelity of in vitro regenerated plants and prevention against bio-piracy. A couple of write-ups also cover stage-specific gene markers, DNA polymorphism and genetic engineering, including raising of stress tolerant plants to sustain productivity and help in reclamation of degraded land.

High-efficiency micropropagation, with relatively low labour costs, has been demonstrated in this unique book detailing liquid media systems for plant tissue culture. World authorities (e.g. von Arnold, Curtis, Takayama, Ziv) contribute seminal papers together with papers from researchers across Europe that are members of the EU COST Action 843 "Advanced micropropagation systems". First-hand practical applications are detailed for crops – including ornamentals and trees – using a wide range of techniques, from thin-film temporary immersion systems to more traditional aerated bioreactors with many types of explant – shoots to somatic embryos. The accounts are realistic, balanced and provide a contemporary account of this important aspect of mass propagation. This book is essential reading for all those in commercial micropropagation labs, as well as researchers worldwide who are keen to improve propagation techniques and lower economic costs of production. Undergraduate and postgraduate students in the applied plant sciences and horticulture will find the book an enlightened treatise.

Scale-Up and Automation in Plant Propagation reviews methods of automation and scale-up of plant propagation in vitro. It looks at the large scale clonal propagation of plants, or micropropagation, as the first major practical application of plant biotechnology. It also discusses the advantages and limitations of micropropagation and evaluates current methods of commercial micropropagation. Organized into 13 chapters, this volume begins with an overview of the benefits of scaling up and automating plant propagation before proceeding with a discussion of synthetic seeds and their use for plant propagation, along with problems and economic considerations associated with synthetic seed technology. It then considers the implementation of somatic embryogenesis technology for clonal forestry, the development and commercialization of bioreactor technology for automated propagation of potato microtubers and lily microbulbs, and approaches to automated propagation of fruit trees. Other chapters focus on issues of cost reduction and development of ""new"" products, scale-up and operation of prototype bioreactors for plant propagation, and application of machine vision technology to scale-up and automated evaluation of somatic embryogenesis in sweet potato. The book also describes methods of measurement and control of the environment in culture, environmental factors affecting photosynthesis, and use of robotics and field transplanters in the automation of plant propagation. Scientists and plant breeders will find this book extremely useful.

As biotechnology produces an unprecedented number of new plantvarieties, automated transplant production systems offer the means for their large-scale introduction via a rapid, efficient and economic method. As labour costs increase, so will automated systems assume even greater importance. Reforestation and afforestation projects, anti-des-ertification plantings and an increasing demand for urban greenery also create enormous demands for the mass production of high quality transplants, in addition to the commercial needs of the agriculture industry. The application of engineering techniques to modern micropropagation techniques and plant production means that many tasks can be automated, especially physical manipulation and close control of the microenvironment. This volume provides overviews of the main con-cepts -- plug seedling production, micropropagation, robotization, model development, measurement and environmental control -- with an emphasis on practical considerations. Examples are drawn from flower, vegetable and forest tree species to show how disciplines such as robotics and image analysis have a part to play in plant production.

Alternating between topic discussions and hands-on laboratory experiments that range from the in vitro flowering of roses to tissue culture of ferns, Plant Tissue Culture Concepts and Laboratory Exercises, Second Edition, addresses the most current principles and methods in plant tissue culture research. The editors use the expertise of some of the top researchers and educators in plant biotechnology to furnish students, instructors and researchers with a broad consideration of the field. Divided into eight major parts, the text covers everything from the history of plant tissue culture and basic methods to propagation techniques, crop improvement procedures, specialized applications and nutrition of callus cultures. New topic discussions and laboratory exercises in the Second Edition include ""Micropropagation of Dieffenbachia,"" ""Micropropagation and in vitro flowering of rose,"" ""Propagation from nonmeristematic tissue-organogenesis,"" ""Variation in culture"" and ""Tissue culture of ferns.""It is the book's extensive laboratory exercises that provide a hands-on approach in illustrating various topics of discussion, featuring step-by-step procedures, anticipated results, and a list of materials needed. What's more, editors Trigiano and Gray go beyond mere basic principles of plant tissue culture by including chapters on genetic transformation techniques, and photographic methods and statistical analysis of data. In all, Plant Tissue Culture Concepts and Laboratory Exercises, Second Edition, is a veritable harvest of information for the continued study and research in plant tissue culture science.

Presented here is another classic from this series and deals with general aspects of micropropagation of plants for commercial exploitation. It includes chapters on setting up a commercial laboratory, meristem culture, somatic embryogenesis, factors affecting micropropagation, disposable vessels, vitrification, acclimatization, induction of rooting, artificial substrates, cryopreservation and artificial seed. Special emphasis is given on modern approaches and developing technologies such as automation and bioreactors, robots in transplanting, artificial intelligence, information management and computerized greenhouses for en masse commercial production of plants.

It is my privilege to contribute the foreword for this unique volume entitled: “Plant Tissue Culture Engineering,” edited by S. Dutta Gupta and Y. Ibaraki. While there have been a number of volumes published regarding the basic methods and applications of plant tissue and cell culture technologies, and even considerable attention provided to bioreactor design, relatively little attention has been afforded to the engineering principles that have emerged as critical contributions to the commercial applications of plant biotechnologies. This volume, “Plant Tissue Culture Engineering,” signals a turning point: the recognition that this specialized field of plant science must be integrated with engineering principles in order to develop efficient, cost effective, and large scale applications of these technologies. I am most impressed with the organization of this volume, and the extensive list of chapters contributed by expert authors from around the world who are leading the emergence of this interdisciplinary enterprise. The editors are to be commended for their skilful crafting of this important volume. The first two parts provide the basic information that is relevant to the field as a whole, the following two parts elaborate on these principles, and the last part elaborates on specific technologies or applications.