Abstract
Plant micropropagation enables rapid clonal multiplication of plants which is of major importance in horticultural practice, especially for cultivars difficult to propagate with conventional methods. In Cyprus, this method appears to have good prospects for the commercial production of ornamental plants. For the initiation and successful operation of a commercial plant micropropagation unit, apart from the necessary scientific and technical expertise, a properly organized tissue culture laboratory is essential. Such a laboratory should normally be divided into three main parts, i. e. the media and plant preparation area, the transfer area, and the culture incubation area (growth room). It must also be furnished with general purpose and specialized tissue culture facilities and equipment and must have an adequate supply of chemicals, glassware and tools, which are listed. Major manufacturers of tissue culture equipment are also listed, to facilitate the aquisition of necesary facilities by prospective plant micropropagators. Finally, a brief reference is made tothe greenhouse and related nursery facilities required for the hardening of micropropagated plants during their transfer to soil.Incluye referencias bibliográficas.Plant micropropagation enables rapid clonal multiplication of plants which is of major importance in horticultural practice, especially for cultivars difficult to propagate with conventional methods. In Cyprus, this method appears to have good prospects for the commercial production of ornamental plants. For the initiation and successful operation of a commercial plant micropropagation unit, apart from the necessary scientific and technical expertise, a properly organized tissue culture laboratory is essential. Such a laboratory should normally be divided into three main parts, i. e. the media and plant preparation area, the transfer area, and the culture incubation area (growth room). It must also be furnished with general purpose and specialized tissue culture facilities and equipment and must have an adequate supply of chemicals, glassware and tools, which are listed. Major manufacturers of tissue culture equipment are also listed, to facilitate the aquisition of necesary facilities by prospective plant micropropagators. Finally, a brief reference is made tothe greenhouse and related nursery facilities required for the hardening of micropropagated plants during their transfer to soil.