In the Tissue Culture Laboratory, which operates as part of the Genetic Laboratory, we use plant tissue culture techniques to grow and propagate virus-free, healthy plant material under in vitro conditions. By applying various procedures, we remove or eliminate viruses from infected plants.
As part of the Genetic bank public service, we manage the storage of plant genetic resources (PGR). As part of the gene bank, we preserve and maintain a potato collection consisting of plants and the production of microtubers under in vitro conditions. In doing so, we preserve collections of plant material from indigenous Slovenian varieties and material needed for breeding and developing new varieties, as well as for research.
Areas of work
The laboratory is equipped with conventional research equipment, such as growth chambers and laminar flow cabinets. The work in the plant tissue culture laboratory serves as a complement to conventional breeding methods and covers the following areas of work:
- Gene bank: preservation of domestic and foreign potato and garlic varieties (plants in test tubes and containers),
- Microtuberization: preservation of domestic and foreign potato varieties in the form of microtubers,
- Maintenance of plant material for breeding purposes,
- Propagation of healthy potato and garlic plants (from test tube to greenhouse) for the purpose of seed material production,
- Establishment of plant tissue cultures for new accessions of potato, garlic, shallot, grapevine, etc.,
- Virus elimination in selected plant species using established treatment methods involving thermotherapy and chemotherapy,
- Meristem isolation as a basis for virus elimination,
- Regular monitoring of the health status of cultures in cooperation with the diagnostic laboratory for virological testing at the Department of Plant Protection,
- Preparation of appropriate growth media for meristem cultures, plant propagation, microtuberization, and the gene bank, depending on the source material,
- Monitoring for the presence of bacteria in tissue cultures using non-selective bacterial media, including their preparation.
Contact
The person responsible for the work in the Tissue Culture Laboratory is Nina Karče Poljanšek,
T: 01 2805 282
