There is a popular understanding that tissue culture is a methodology to propagate plants that are sterile, whether it produces non-viable seeds or no seeds at all, require a long time to produce a flower and seed or because it is difficult to propagate by other asexual methods like via cuttings.

However, tissue culture propagation may also be considered for other purposes such as: rejuvenating mother stock plants or to generate more vigorous liners that would outperform in the field traditionally propagated liners.

This latter reason, the improved liner performance in the field, is what we would like to explore next due to the potential benefits in labor savings and production space that results in an increased profit margin for growers.

To support this fact, we can refer to a recent study conducted by Tim Pannkuk and Kaitlin Hopkins of Sam Houston State University, TX. The study compared the growth of Callistemon vinimalis or Bottlebrush propagated through tissue culture (TC) vs. traditional stem cuttings (CO) during a 34 week period.

The results?

Tissue-cultured plants had root weights over 250% higher than those grown from cuttings! While stem growth was similar, the faster root development in TC plants could lead to shorter production cycles and reduced labor costs for nurseries. 🌱

For growers, this means tissue culture might be the way forward to boost efficiency and profitability not only for Callistemon but for many more varieties including those propagated through traditional means.

At MGN Liners we have been working on tissue culture protocols to propagate crops that are commonly propagated by cuttings but that growers have had challenges with their performance in the field.

Some of them are already in our availability list, including:
- Acca sellowiana
- Callistemon vinimalis
- Dianella tasmanica variegata
- Loropetalum ‘Purple Diamond’.

We have other products in our pipeline which you won’t want to miss and therefore encourage you to subscribe to our weekly availability by filling out the form in this link: https://mgnliners.com/pages/availability

We invite you to download the original whitepaper!