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micro-propagation
Micro-propagation in agriculture is not new. However, the modern method of using tissue culture to allow rapid multiplication of plantlets is becoming well established. The advantages of tissue culture over earlier forms of propagation are that the planting materials can be replicated quickly, and the properties of these materials can be fixed and assured. Other advantages include disease-free plants and the fact that rooted plantlets are ready for growth, unlike seeds or cuttings, resulting in a more robust plant. Disadvantages include the fact that micro-propagation is an expensive process, particularly in terms of labour costs, and infections can be easily passed on. The banana industry in parts of the Caribbean has benefited from this process in recent years.
In vitro culture of plants in a controlled, sterile environment
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Banana plantlets transferred to soil (with vermicompost) from plant media. This process is done for acclimatization of plantlets to the soil as they were previously grown in plant media. After growing for some days the plantlets are transferred to the field.
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