432 Horticulture Today
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Labor and Equipment Costs
The main disadvantage of micropropagation is the cost of labor and
equipment. Micropropagation does not happen by chance. Micropropagation
requires the employment of technicians skilled in the art of micropropagation
as well as specialized equipment. Technicians must be trained to use aseptic
(free from contamination) techniques to prepare and maintain work areas
because micropropagation must be conducted in a clean room (a space that is
completely sterile and void of any contaminants).
In addition to trained technicians and clean room
requirements, special tools, such as a laminar fl ow hood
(a machine that fi lters and purifi es the air), are needed. A
laminar fl ow hood may cost several thousand dollars and
the fi lter, which must be replaced regularly, can also be
costly, Figure 17-3. Micropropagation also requires a growing
medium comprised of various chemicals, nutrients, and
hormones. This medium must be carefully prepared in a sterile
environment with the proper formulation for each species,
variety, or cultivar of plant being micropropagated.
Supply and Demand
Skilled labor and equipment expenses are refl ected in
the high price of micropropagated materials. Plants that are
micropropagated must be those in demand and desired in large
quantities, Figure 17-4. For example, if there is high demand
for a new, unique plant, a grower can meet that demand in the
shortest amount of time possible through micropropagation.
As with all things that are bought and sold, supply and
demand or economics play a major role in deciding whether to
micropropagate plant material for the open market.
Photography by Agri-Starts, Inc.
Figure 17-3. A technician from Agri-Starts
works to prepare plant material for
micropropagation with the use of a
laminar flow hood.
B
lobster20/Shutterstock.com
Figure 17-4. Popular plants, such as the (A) calathea and (B) Venus flytrap, are the result of micropropagation. Venus
flytraps have difficulty propagating in nature and the use of micropropagation ensures future generations of this unique
carnivorous plant.
A
Daimond Shutter/Shutterstock.com