Mikropropagation

Mikropropagation, commonly referred to as micropropagation, is a set of plant tissue culture techniques used to produce large numbers of identical plants from small tissue samples, or explants, under sterile in vitro conditions. It enables clonal multiplication that can exceed what is possible with conventional cuttings or seeding.

A typical workflow begins with selecting and sterilizing an explant, often a shoot tip or meristem. The explant is cultured on a nutrient medium, commonly based on Murashige and Skoog formulation, containing sugars, a gelling agent, and plant growth regulators. Cytokinins promote shoot proliferation, while auxins influence rooting and embryogenic pathways. Depending on the species, cultures may undergo organogenesis, where shoots form directly from the explant, or somatic embryogenesis, where embryo-like structures give rise to plantlets. After multiplication, shoots are elongated and transferred to rooting media, then acclimatized gradually to external conditions before transplantation to soil.

Applications include rapid production of uniform planting stock, production of disease-free material, and germplasm preservation. Micropropagation also serves as a platform for genetic transformation and for preserving endangered species, enabling year‑round propagation independent of climate. It supports large-scale commercial propagation in horticulture, forestry, and agriculture, as well as breeding programs by enabling precise, rapid multiplication of desirable genotypes.

Limitations include higher cost and technical requirements, risk of contamination, and occasional somaclonal variation in some species. These factors, along with regulatory considerations, can affect adoption. Nevertheless, mikropropagation remains a central tool for efficient, scalable plant propagation worldwide.