cloning
propagation is used to clone plants
Micro
1 A plant with desirable characteristics is selected to be cloned Small pieces called explants
are taken from the tips of the stems and the side shoots of this plant
2 The explants are sterilised to kill any microorganisms
3 The explants then grow in vitro they're placed in a petri dish containing a nutrient
medium the medium has all the nutrients the explant needs to grow also contains growth
hormones I
4 Cells in the explants divide and grow into a small plant
if large quantities of plants are required further explants can be taken from these
small plants and so on until enough small plants are produced
5 The small plants are taken out of the mediumplanted in soil and put into glasshouses
it'll develop into plants that are genetically identical to the original plant shares the same
characteristics
Advantages produce large quantities of plants quickly
can grow plants all year round
can grow rare or endangered plants to increase the population
genetic modifications can be introduced to large numbers of plants
Disadvantages all offspring identical so vulnerable to same diseases
requires sterile lab facilities