Culturing meristematic tissue and node cuttings from yams (Dioscorea)

Plant tissue culture is widely used in both primary and applied science. Applications range from plant development studies to functional gene studies, crop improvement, commercial micropropagation, virus elimination, and conservation of rare species.

Vascular plants, which account for over 90% of the Earth’s vegetation, all undergo primary growth—which lengthens roots and shoots. Many land plants, notably woody plants, also undergo secondary growth—which thickens roots and shoots.

Most vertebrate cells grow in vitro attached to a substrate as a monolayer, called adherent cultures. The flasks and plates used to grow cells are chemically treated to facilitate cell attachment. However, a few cell types, such as hematopoietic cells, can grow in a suspension. In contrast to adherent cultures, suspension cultures can grow in non-treated cultureware using magnetic stirrers or spinner flasks to agitate the culture media

Asexual reproduction allows plants to reproduce without growing flowers, attracting pollinators, or dispersing seeds. Offspring are genetically identical to the parent and produced without the fusion of male and female gametes.

Plants grow throughout their lives; this is called indeterminate growth, and it distinguishes plants from most animals. Although certain parts of plants stop growing (e.g., leaves and flowers), others grow continuously—like roots and stems.