Meristem Culture

Culture of undifferentiated plant cells harvested from shoot-tips - a technique used to get rid of plant viruses

A meristem is a group of undifferentiated plant cells that can divide and form all types of tissues. Such cells can found at growth tips.

If bits of meristematic tissue are isolated and cultivated in a sterile, nutritious medium, the resulting plantlets are often free of virus infections and parasites. It is one of the only ways known to rid vegetatively propagated plants of viruses. Meristem culture is used to produce healthy propagation stock for crops and ornamentals.