Tissue culture of ornamental pot plant: A critical review on present scenario and future prospects

Recent modern techniques of propagation have been developed which could help growers to meet the demand of the horticultural industry in the next century. An overview on the in vitro propagation via thin cell layer, meristem culture, regeneration via organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis is presented. Available methods for the transfer of genes could significantly simplify the breeding procedures and overcome some of the agronomic and environmental problems, which other wise would not be achievable through conventional propagation methods. The development and remarkable achievements with biotechnology in ornamental pot plants made during the three decades have been reviewed. The usefulness of the pot plants in commercial industry as well as propagation techniques, screening for various useful characteristics and selection of somaclonal variation is also discussed.