Activated charcoal is commonly used in plant tissue culture primarily to improve cell growth and development.
How Activated Charcoal Improves Plant Tissue Culture
Activated charcoal plays a critical role in various plant tissue culture processes. Its porous structure allows it to adsorb and remove inhibitory compounds from the culture medium, which can otherwise hinder plant cell growth and development. This detoxification effect creates a more favorable environment for the cultured tissues or cells.
Key Applications of Activated Charcoal
The benefits of activated charcoal are seen across a wide range of tissue culture techniques. According to the provided reference, its critical role is observed in:
- Micropropagation: Enhancing the proliferation and growth of shoots and roots.
- Orchid Seed Germination: Promoting the successful germination of delicate orchid seeds in vitro.
- Somatic Embryogenesis: Improving the formation and maturation of somatic embryos.
- Anther Culture: Supporting the development of pollen into haploid plants.
- Synthetic Seed Production: Contributing to the viability and germination of encapsulated somatic embryos.
- Protoplast Culture: Aiding the regeneration and growth of plant cells from isolated protoplasts.
- Rooting: Stimulating root formation in plantlets.
- Stem Elongation: Supporting the lengthening of stems.
- Bulb Formation: Promoting the development of bulbs in species that form them.
By adsorbing various substances, including phenolic compounds released by stressed plant tissues, pigments, and possibly inhibiting plant growth regulators or their breakdown products present in the medium, activated charcoal helps maintain a clean and conducive environment for optimal plant cell and tissue health.
