Question

Define micro-propagation.

Hint:

Recall the tissue culture method that multiplies a single explant into many identical plantlets.

Answer 1

Understanding the Question:
Micropropagation is a plant tissue culture technique used to produce many identical plants from one parent plant.

Detailed Explanation:
A small piece of tissue, called an explant, is taken from a healthy parent plant and grown on a sterile nutrient medium containing hormones like auxins and cytokinins.
Under these controlled conditions, the explant multiplies into a mass of undifferentiated cells called a callus, which is then induced to form shoots and roots, giving complete plantlets.
Because every plantlet comes from the same parent cell, all the plants raised this way are genetically identical, or clones.

Final Answer:
Micropropagation is the rapid production of thousands of genetically identical plants from a single explant using tissue culture, which is why commercial banana and orchid growers rely on it.