Question

How are healthy plants recovered from diseased plants using plant tissue culture?

• A. By growing floral buds of diseased plants in vitro
• B. By growing leaf epidermis of diseased plants in vitro
• C. By growing apical and axillary meristem of diseased plant in vitro
• D. By growing phloem parenchyma cells of diseased plant in vitro

Hint:

Meristem culture = Key technique for producing virus-free plants.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Concept: Meristematic tissues (apical and axillary meristems) are usually free from viruses because:
• They divide rapidly
• Viruses cannot keep up with rapid cell division Thus, they are used to obtain disease-free plants.

Step 1: Understand technique.
In plant tissue culture:
• Meristem is excised from diseased plant
• Cultured in vitro
• Develops into a healthy plant

Step 2: Analyze options.

• Floral buds → may carry infection
• Leaf epidermis → infected tissue
• Meristem → disease-free region (correct)
• Phloem → often infected

Step 3: Final conclusion.
Thus, healthy plants are obtained by: \[ Growing apical and axillary meristem in vitro \]