Micropropagation through an in vitro culture technique is a reliable biotechnological tool that holds a better scope and future for the propagation of numerous economically prominent ornamentals, including those having value in the foliage and flowering plants industry. As a lucrative alternative approach to conventional propagation, micropropagation is a highly refined, well-developed and suitable method to produce a large scale of progeny plants which are genetically identical to the stock plant in a short time. Micropropagation of ornamental plants is increasingly and continuously involved in the scientific progress of plant biotechnology and has a relevant horticultural impact. Accordingly, a new book on micropropagation of ornamental plants is always required. Microprpagation of Ornamental Plants: Research and Practice consists of nine chapters divided into four sections authored by experienced and prestigious authors from different parts of the globe. The editor and authors are recognized as eminent scientists in their fields, and they add the quality and credibility to the content. Each chapter is illustrated and attempts to convey the practical as well as the theoretical aspects of microproparagtion. This anthology combines smartly refined micropropagation protocols of a considerable number of economically important ornamental species. Furthermore, the book will serve as a reference for horticulturists, researchers, lecturers, and students in horticulture, agriculture and biotechnology.

Providing crucial information for the expanding ornamental plant industry, leading researchers in the field compile comprehensive and step-wise protocols for rapid plant multiplication and in vitro storage of major commercially viable ornamental plants.

In horticulture, plant propagation plays an important role, as the number of plants can be rapidly multiplied, retaining the desirable characteristics of the mother plants, and shortening the bearing age of plants. There are two primary forms of plant propagation: sexual and asexual. In nature, the propagation of plants most often involves sexual reproduction, and this form is still used in several species. Over the years, horticulturists have developed asexual propagation methods that use vegetative plant parts. Innovation in plant propagation has supported breeding programs and allowed the production of high quality nursery plants with the same genetic characteristics of the mother plant, free of diseases or pests.

In 2002 the 100th anniversary of the publication on "Culturversuche mit isolierten Pflanzenzellen" by Gottlieb Haberlandt was celebrated. Haberlandt ́s vision of the totipotency of plant cells represents the actual beginning of tissue culture. This book pays homage to a great Austrian scientist and the further development of his ideas. The first part of the book contains a facsimile of the original paper which is a true artistic masterpiece and its first translation into English from 1969. The second and third parts describe Haberlandt ́s life and work and early historical aspects of the development of plant tissue culture. The fourth part of the book contains an overview of important topics of plant tissue culture with the most promising areas of application to date and an outlook into the future. Areas range from micropropagation, production of pharmaceutically interesting compounds, plant breeding, genetic engineering of crop plants, including trees, and cryopreservation of valuable germplasm.

Micropropagation is a reliable technology applied commercially worldwide for large-scale plant multiplication, germplasm conservation, pathogen elimination, genetic manipulations and supply of selected plants. In Protocols for Micropropagation of Selected Economically-Important Horticultural Plants, well recognised researchers in the field compile step-wise protocols for rapid plant multiplication of economically-important horticultural species. The book contains 35 chapters, divided into four major sections. The first three sections (Section A, B and C) contain 29 micropropagation protocols of selected fruit and nut species, indoor and outdoor ornamental plants, cut flowers, and vegetables. In addition to the detailed protocols of in vitro shoot initiation, proliferation, root induction and acclimatization, chapters also include detailed information on medium preparation, explant selection and preparation. The six chapters of Section D cover specific reviews on pivotal topics, such as in vitro rejuvenation, synthetic seed technology, thermotherapy and meristem culture in banana, genetic transformation of pineapple, flower color somaclonal variation in torenia, and cryotherapy of horticultural crops. Moreover, as a part of the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to the respective topic, lists of necessary materials, notes, and illustrative photos. Comprehensive and well-written, Protocols for Micropropagation of Selected Economically-Important Horticultural Plants offers a useful resource for horticulturists, researchers, commercial companies, plant propagators, biotechnologists and students interested in micropropagation.

Micropropagation has become a reliable and routine approach for large-scale rapid plant multiplication, which is based on plant cell, tissue and organ culture on well defined tissue culture media under aseptic conditions. A lot of research efforts are being made to develop and refine micropropagation methods and culture media for large-scale plant multiplication of several number of plant species. However, many forest and fruit tree species still remain recalcitrant to in vitro culture and require highly specific culture conditions for plant growth and development. The recent challenges on plant cell cycle regulation and the presented potential molecular mechanisms of recalcitrance are providing excellent background for understanding on totipotency and what is more development of micropropagation protocols. For large-scale in vitro plant production the important attributes are the quality, cost effectiveness, maintenance of genetic fidelity, and long-term storage. The need for appropriate in vitro plant regeneration methods for woody plants, including both forest and fruit trees, is still overwhelming in order to overcome problems facing micropropagation such as somaclonal variation, recalcitrant rooting, hyperhydricity, polyphenols, loss of material during hardening and quality of plant material. Moreover, micropropagation may be utilized, in basic research, in production of virus-free planting material, cryopreservation of endangered and elite woody species, applications in tree breeding and reforestation.

Conference on Tissue Culture as a Plant Production System for Horticultural Crops, Beltsville, MD, October 20-23, 1985