Plant tissue culture for sustainable agriculture

Abstract

Sustainable agriculture is being impacted by global climate change and population growth, particularly in developing countries, where small-scale farmers have historically managed a number of planting materials. As a result, farmers cultivating food and staple crops like yams, taro, plantains, etc., are unable to consume their harvests, even while facing hunger and poverty due to insufficient planting materials. They must reserve substantial portions of their harvested crops to use as planting materials for the next planting season, all while uncertain if any biotic and abiotic factors might affect their agricultural yields. Plant tissue culture, as a novel biotechnological approach in agriculture, has the potential to address farmers' concerns about having access to year-round planting materials. Once effectively implemented, it can enable them to utilize their harvested food crops for both consumption and income generation, which can contribute to improving their livelihoods. Furthermore, plant tissue culture emerges as a promising technique for improving crop varieties and increasing production efficiency by generating disease-free plants with desirable traits. Despite the high prices and microbial contamination, plant tissue culture has the potential to enhance food security and reduce poverty rates among smallholder farmers. Ultimately, it is a crucial resource for improving life quality in developing countries and promoting agricultural sustainability.