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Micropropagation It is a tissue culture technique that is used to multiply plants without sexual reproduction or seed formation. Each of the new plant is genetically identical to its parent and can be called clone. Traditionally, it is done by using cuttings, budding, grafting, corms, tubers or other vegetative propagules. However, these traditional procedures are laborious, dependent on environmental conditions and the success rate is also low. Micropropagation can be used to address the above mentioned problems. It results in rapid multiplicationofplantswithinashortperiodoftimeinasmall space. Since it is performed under controlled environmental conditions, micropropagation is not season dependent. This method is useful for the multiplication of non-fertile plants, rare plants, endangered plants or other plants for which the character of choice cannot be maintained by sexual reproduction (elite plants). Micropropagation has been employed successfully in agriculture, horticulture and forestry like potato, banana, carnation, chrysanthemum, etc. Banana tissue culture technology is very popular for the supply of disease-free quality planting materials and has been proven to be profitable to the farmers. Banana is one of the major tissue culture-raised crops in India. More than 400 million plantlets are regenerated annually through tissue culture. Artificial (synthetic) seed production Artificial seeds are also called synthetic seeds or somatic seeds. Using nutrient media with suitable hormones, somatic embryos are produced on the callus tissue. They are produced by artificial encapsulation of the somatic embryos with a protective coating of suitable matrix, like calcium alginate. In addition, nutritional components and growth regulators are also added, which provide nutrition for the embryos and mimic the structure of the conventional seed (Fig. 7.3). Suitable explants are selected for establishing callus culture. Artificial seeds can be stored for a long time in suitable conditions and can be utilised for the rapid and mass propagation of elite plants species, as well as hybrid varieties. Artificial seed production is also helpful for asexually propagating plants. For example, artificial seed production has been successfully used in carrot, grapes, sandalwood, etc. 177 PlantTissue Culture Reprint 2025-26