Question
Biology Question on Strategies For Enhancement in Food Production
To obtain virus - free healthy plants from a diseased one by tissue culture technique, which part/parts of the diseased plant will be taken?
A
Apical meristem only
B
Palisade parenchyma
C
Both apical and axillary meristems
D
Epidermis only
Answer
Both apical and axillary meristems
Explanation
Solution
Meristem is a localized group of cells, which are actively dividing and undifferentiated but ultimately giving rise to permanent tissue. Although the plant is infected with a virus, yet the meristem is free of virus. Therefore, meristem can be removed and grown in vitro to obtain virus free plants. Cultivation of axillary or apical shoot meristems is called meristem culture. The apical or axillary meristems are generally free from virus.