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Why can tissue culture rapidly multiply orchids?
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tissue culture
Tissue culture often requires sterile working conditions and thus is typically performed in a laminar flow cabinet (or tissue culture hood), which circulates filtered air to reduce the risk of culture contamination.
Tissue culture allows for the rapid multiplication of certain orchids through the use of excised shoot tips. When these tips are cultured, they form embryo-like structures that can be sectioned indefinitely, enabling the rapid production of large stocks of plants. If left unsectioned, these bulblike bodies develop into small plantlets. This method is particularly effective for orchids because, unlike many other plants, they do not possess a continuous cambium layer, which makes traditional grafting techniques seldom possible.1