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Re: tissue culture

What follows is based on a brief practicum I did tissue-culturing
rhododendrons.  Many people will know lots more about the subject than I.

Small-scale tissue culture is very possible, but you do need good
procedures and super sanitation. I wouldn't want to do it without a laminar
flow hood to keep "contaminated" ordinary air away from your propagules
while you work. The hood is a boxlikework station with a fan, lights and a
counter in it. Cheaper than a hood, but also less safe, are wood or glass
transfer cabinets. 

'Plants from Test Tubes'  is a good resource. Timber Press told me a couple
of years ago that there would soon be a revised version. You might want to
check. The list of equipment sources in the first edition is out of date. 

One pricey but easily accessible source of lab equipment and even prepared
specialized media for tissue culture is Carolina Science and Math. The
current catalogue says you can get in touch at   plantiss@carolina.com. I
am not connected to the firm! 8-)

Tissue culture can conserve plants that won't or can't reproduce by other
means. It can also multiply (often mass produce) plants capable of
reproduction without test tubes. It's worth remembering that as with other
forms of cloning, tissue culture produces a monocrop. It does nothing for
genetic diversity.
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