Plant biotechnology is a most interesting branch for academicians and researchers in recent past. Now days, it becomes a very useful tool in agriculture and medicine and is regarded as a popular area of research especially in biological sciences because it makes an integral use of biochemistry, molecular biology and engineering sciences in order to achieve technological application of cultured tissues, cell and microbes. Plant tissue culture (PTC) refers to a technique of cultivation of plant cells and other parts on artificial nutrient medium in controlled environment under aseptic conditions. PTC requires various nutrients, pH, carbon source, gelling agent, temperature, photoperiod, humidity etc. and most importantly the judicious use of plant growth regulators. Various natural, adenine and phenyl urea derivatives are employed for the induction and proliferation of different types of explants. Several phenyl urea derivatives were evaluated and it was observed that thidiazuron (n-phenyl-N”-1,2,3- thidiazol-5-ulurea) was found to be the most active among the plant growth regulators. Thidiazuron (TDZ) was initially developed as a cotton defoliant and showed high cytokinin like activity. In some examples, its activity was 100 times more than BA in tobacco callus assay and produces more number of shoots in cultures than Zeatin and 2iP. TDZ also showed major breakthrough in tissue culture of various recalcitrant legumes and woody species. For the last two decades, number of laboratories has been working on TDZ with different aspect and number of publications has come out. To the best of our knowledge, there is no comprehensive edited volume on this particular topic. Hence th,e edited volume is a deed to consolidate the scattered information on role of TDZ in plant tissue culture and genetic manipulations that would hopefully prove informative to various researches. Thidiazuron: From Urea Derivative to Plant Growth Regulator compiles various aspects of TDZ in Plant Tissue Culture with profitable implications. The book will provides basic material for academicians and researchers who want to initiate work in this fascinating area of research. The book will contain 26 chapters compiled by International dignitaries and thus giving a holistic view to the edited volume.

Plant tissue culture (PTC) technology has gained unassailable success for its various commercial and research applications in plant sciences. Plant growth regulators (PGRs) are an essential part of any plant tissue culture intervention for propagation or modification of plants. A wide range of PGRs are available, including aromatic compounds that show cytokinin activities, promote cell division and micro-propagation, viz. kinetin, N6-benzyladenine and topolins. Topolins are naturally occurring aromatic compounds that have gained popularity as an effective alternative for other frequently used cytokinins in in vitro culture of plants. Among them, meta-topolin [6-(3-hydroxybenzlyamino) purine] is the most popular and its use in plant tissue culture has amplified swiftly. During the last few decades, there have been numerous reports highlighting the effectiveness of meta-topolin in micropropagation and alleviation of various physiological disorders, rooting and acclimatization of tissue culture raised plants.

This volume covers recent advances in the vegetative propagation of woody plants by tissue culture. A wide range of topics relevant to micropropagation of woody plants are discussed by renowned international scientists. These include cellular contro of morphogenesis, light regimes in tissue culture, maturation and rejuvenation, synthetic seed, genetics of micropropagated plants, haploid embryogenesis, protoplast culture, and acclimatization of ex vitro woody plants. In addition to micropropagation of selected woody plants, both gymnosperms and angiosperms, this volume also includes in vitro genetic selection, strategic planning for application of biotechnology for genetics and breeding, and clonal options for woody plant improvement. A balanced view of both perspectives and limitations of woody plant micropropagation is presented.

This volume presents information about protocols for micropropagation of more than 40 species of medicinal plants. The contents combine knowledge about the scientific principles of micropropagation with state of the art updates in tissue culture techniques presented by plant scientists. The readers will learn about techniques required to grow plants in challenging conditions that aim to reduce the impacts of injudicious harvesting, deforestation, climate change, pollution, urbanization and other factors that limit the ability to meet current demand. General topics such as biotization and pharmaceutical investigation are also included to guide readers about the significance of these plants in research and development for new medicines. The book provides protocols for micropropagation of important medicinal plants like Rauvolfia serpentina, Catharanthus roseus, Withania somnifera, Tylophora indica, Bacopa monnieri, Aloe vera, Phyllanthus amarus, Allium sativum, Moringa oleifera, Operculina turpethum, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Pterocarpus marsupium, Vetiver grass, Ruta graveolens, Tinospora cordifolia, Kaempferia, Hedychium, Decalepis hamiltonii, Saraca asoca, Wrightia tinctoria, Wrightia arborea, Artemisia absinthium, Aegle marmelos, Atropa acuminata, Atropa belladonna, Alpinia species, Hedychium species, and Cissus species. This book is a handy reference for medicinal chemists, horticulturists and pharmacists who want to learn about the growth and conservation of important medicinal herbs and plants.

Cytokinins are hormones involved in all aspects of plant growth and development and are essential for in vitro manipulation of plant cells and tissues. Much information has been gathered regarding the chemistry and biology of cytokinins, while recent studies have focused on the genetics and cytokinin-related genes. However, other than proceedings of symposia, no single volume on cytokinins has been written. This book is the first of its kind, homing in on the key subject areas of cytokinin-chemistry, biosynthesis, metabolism, activity, function, genetics, and analyses. These areas are comprehensively reviewed in individual chapters by experts currently active in the field. In addition, a personal history on the discovery of cytokinin is presented by Professor Folke Skoog. This volume summarizes previous findings and identifies future research directions.

This edited book is focusing on the novel and innovative procedures in tissue culture for large scale production of plantation and horticulture crops. It is bringing out a comprehensive collection of information on commercial scale tissue culture with the objective of producing high quality, disease-free and uniform planting material. Developing low cost commercial tissue culture can be one of the best possible way to attain the goal of sustainable agriculture. Tissue culture provides a means for rapid clonal propagation of desired cultivars, and a mechanism for somatic hybridization and in vitro selection of novel genotypes. Application of plant tissue culture technology in horticulture and plantation crops provides an efficient method to improve the quality and nutrition of the crops. This book includes a description of highly efficient, low cost in vitro regeneration protocols of important plantation and horticulture crops with a detailed guideline to establish a commercial plant tissue culture facility including certification, packaging and transportation of plantlets. The book discusses somatic embryogenesis, virus elimination, genetic transformation, protoplast fusion, haploid production, coculture of endophytic fungi, effects of light and ionizing radiation as well as the application of bioreactors. This book is useful for a wide range of readers such as, academicians, students, research scientists, horticulturists, agriculturists, industrial entrepreneurs, and agro-industry employees.