Advantage of micropropagation by plant tissue culture is that it can produce virus-free clones.

Explanation:

Micropropagation, also known as tissue culture, is a technique used to produce large numbers of genetically identical plants from a single parent plant. It involves the growth of plant cells or tissues in a controlled laboratory environment.

Advantage:

The main advantage of micropropagation by plant tissue culture is the ability to produce virus-free clones. This is particularly important in agriculture as many plant viruses can cause significant damage to crops, leading to reduced yields and economic losses for farmers. By using tissue culture techniques, it is possible to eliminate viruses from infected plants and produce healthy, virus-free clones.

How it works:

Micropropagation begins with the selection of a healthy parent plant that is free from viruses. Small pieces of plant tissue, such as shoot tips or node segments, are then excised and placed onto a nutrient-rich culture medium. This medium contains a combination of essential nutrients, vitamins, and hormones that promote the growth and development of the plant cells.

Under controlled conditions of temperature, light, and humidity, the plant cells start to divide and form a mass of undifferentiated cells called a callus. The callus can then be divided into smaller pieces and transferred to a fresh medium to promote shoot formation. These shoots can further be divided and transferred to another medium to promote root formation.

Once the plantlets have developed roots, they can be transferred to soil or a suitable growing medium to continue their growth. The resulting plants are genetically identical to the parent plant and, if the parent plant was free from viruses, they will also be virus-free.

Significance:

The ability to produce virus-free clones through micropropagation has numerous practical applications. It allows for the rapid multiplication of plants with desirable traits, such as improved yield, disease resistance, or aesthetic qualities. It also enables the conservation and preservation of rare or endangered plant species. Additionally, micropropagation can be used for the production of elite plant varieties for commercial purposes, such as the production of ornamental plants or high-value crops.

By producing virus-free clones, micropropagation contributes to the sustainable production of healthy plants, ensuring food security, economic stability, and environmental preservation.