ARBA MINCH UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY


COURSE GUIDEBOOK 

Module Name: Optional III

(Plant Tissue Culture and Food Biotechnology)

Course Title: Introduction to Plant Tissue Culture and Propagation

Course Code: Biol 3131

Course Credit 2 (1 theoretical classes + 1 practical /week)

Course Credit point: 3 ECTS

Pre-requisite Plant Physiology (Biol2024)

Academic Year 2015 GC/2007 EC

Semester II

Target group III year, II semester Biology major students

Course status Elective

Instructors contact information 

Instructors Name    Dr. Ch. Bhaskar Rao

E-mail    chinthapalli.bhaskar@amu.edu.et


Office Number   

Office phone number   

Office hour   

Class schedule   

Venue

1. Course Description: 

Laboratory organization of plant tissue culture; medium and sterilization techniques; different types of cultures; micro propagation; cell suspension and secondary metabolites; in vitro production of haploids; protoplast isolation and fusion; somaclonal variation; germplasm storage and cryopreservation; micropropagation and other propagation methods 


2. Course objectives 

After completing the course, the students should be able to: 

Master the basic principles and skills regarding techniques, practices and procedures of plant tissue culture (Micropropagation), asepsis, laboratory plan, equipment and facilities, and green house growing. 

Discuss applications of plant tissue culture. 

Practice the most common methods of plant cell and tissue culture. 

Propagate rare and endangered plant species by laboratory method. 


3. Student Workload: 

Students will spend 81 hours on the course (3 * 27) which will be distributed approximately to the following activities. 

Activity Hour

Lecture 16

Laboratory work 21

Assignment and Presentation 13

Independent study 23

Assessment 8

Total 81


4. Teaching Learning Methods: 

Lecturing 

Group discussion and Presentation 

Reading assignments and Reporting 

Laboratory report writing 

Demonstration 


5. Tentative Course Schedule

Time    Topics/Contents Readings

Week one 1. Introduction to Plant tissue culture George, E., M. Hall, G. Klerk (eds.), 2007. Plant propagation by tissue culture. 3 edition. vol.1  

1.1. Definition

1.2. History

1.3. Applications

Week  two 2. Facilities and supplies  George, E., M. Hall, G. Klerk (eds.), 2007. Plant propagation by tissue culture. 3 edition. vol.1  

2.1. Organization of a tissue culture laboratory

2.2. Equipment and supplies

3. Tissue culture media 

3.1. Media components

3.2. Media preparation

Week three 4. Callus and cell culture  George, E., M. Hall, G. Klerk (eds.), 2007. Plant propagation by tissue culture. 3 edition. vol.1  

4.1. Callus induction

4.2. Callus culture

4.3. Cell suspension culture

Test One=10%

Week Four  5. Micropropagation  George, E., M. Hall, G. Klerk (eds.), 2007. Plant propagation by tissue culture. 3 edition. vol.1  

5.1. Applications

5.2. Micropropagation types

5.3. Micropropagation stages

Week Five  6. Organogenesis  and Embryogenesis George, E., M. Hall, G. Klerk (eds.), 2007. Plant propagation by tissue culture. 3 edition. vol.1  

7. Haploid Production -Anther/microspore culture

Test Two=10%

Week six    8. Embryo culture  George, E., M. Hall, G. Klerk (eds.), 2007. Plant propagation by tissue culture. 3 edition. vol.1  

9. Protoplast culture 

10. Somaclonal variation 

Assignment=10%

Week Seven    11. Plant transformation  George, E., M. Hall, G. Klerk (eds.), 2007. Plant propagation by tissue culture. 3 edition. vol.1  

12. Germplasm preservation


Laboratory schedule for the course Biol 3131

Time    Activity Topics/Contents Readings

Week three Session  one Media Preparation Laboratory manual

Week four Session  two Meristem culture (could be done from many plant species Laboratory manual

Week five Session  three Callus culture (Initiation and regeneration) Laboratory manual

Week six Session  four Haploid culture (pollen could be used Laboratory manual

Week seven Session  five Protoplast isolation Laboratory manual


6. Mode of Assessment Methods: 

Tests …………………………………………………. .. 20% 

Assignment…………………………………………….. 10% 

Laboratory Activities and Reports.…………………… 20%

Final written exam………………….……..………… 50% 

Total ………………………………………………… 100% 


7. Course policies: 

The instructor expects that students will have read the appropriate chapters in the reference books BEFORE the class.  Students are responsible for all material covered in lecture, whether it comes directly from the text or not.  Students arrive on time to class. We will conduct this class in an atmosphere of mutual respect. The instructor encourages your active articipation in class discussions as well as in laboratory sessions. You should expect that if your conduct during class discussions seriously disrupts the atmosphere of mutual respect we expect in this class, you will not be permitted to participate further and penalized for your act. If you feel that you need individual help or would like to come by to talk (about this course or anything else), please come by my office during office hours, or schedule a time that is more convenient. 


8. References: 

1. Agrawal, R.L., 1998.Fundamentals of plant breeding and hybrid seed production. Oxford and IBH publishing, New Delhi.

2. Bhojwani, S. and M. Razdan, 1996. Plant tissue culture: Theory and Practice. Department of  Botany University of Delhi. Amsterdams, the Netherlands, revised edition. pp. 26 - 33 

3. George, E., M. Hall, G. Klerk (eds.), 2007. Plant propagation by tissue culture. 3edition.vol.1 

4. IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), 2004. Low cost options for tissue culture technology in developing countries.  Proceedings of a technical meeting organized by the joint FAO/IAEA division of nuclear techniques in food and agriculture and held in Vienna, 26-30. 

http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/te_1384_web.pdf 

5. Mineo, L., 1990. Plant tissue culture techniques.

http://www.ableweb.org/volumes/vol11/9-mineo.pdf 

6. PTL (PhytoTechnology Laboratories), 2008. African violet multiplication kit. 

http://www. phytotechlab.com/ pdf/ African VioletKit.pdf

7. Seymour, W. Mitchell and M. Ahmad, 2003. A novel surface sterilization method for reducing microbial contamination of field grown medicinal explants intended for in vitro culture. Biotechnology Centre, U.W.I, Mona, Kingston 7, Ja. W.I.Part II


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