Question

Inducing the formation of various vegetative organs from cells or tissues in plant tissue culture is called -

• A. Somatic embryogenesis
• B. Dedifferentiation
• C. Organogenesis
• D. Somatic hybridization

Hint:

Differentiate between the two main pathways of plant regeneration in vitro: {Organogenesis} (forms organs like shoots/roots, often sequentially) and {Somatic Embryogenesis} (forms bipolar structures resembling zygotic embryos).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks for the specific term used in plant tissue culture to describe the process of forming vegetative organs like roots, shoots, and leaves from a mass of cells or a piece of tissue (explant).
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let's define the given terms in the context of plant tissue culture:
Somatic embryogenesis: The process where embryos are formed from somatic (body) cells, rather than from the fusion of gametes. These embryos can then develop into whole plants. It forms an embryo structure, not directly organs.
Dedifferentiation: The process by which mature, specialized cells lose their specialized features and revert to a more embryonic, meristematic state. This often leads to the formation of an unorganized mass of cells called a callus. It is a step before organ formation, not the formation itself.
Organogenesis: Literally means "the genesis of organs." In plant tissue culture, it refers to the development and formation of organs (like shoots, roots, flowers) from a callus or directly from an explant. This perfectly matches the question's description.
Somatic hybridization: A technique involving the fusion of protoplasts (cells without cell walls) from different plant species to create a hybrid cell, which can then be regenerated into a hybrid plant.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The induction and formation of vegetative organs from cells or tissues in culture is correctly termed organogenesis.