Introduction Single Cell Culture
A flowering plant body is made up of a wide range of innumerable cell types which are successfully integrated both in terms of structure and function. The plant body aquires this cellular diversity either due to permanent alteration in the genetic composition of the cells or due to more adaptation of the cells to perform a peculiar function in the plant body without affecting their genetic make-up. It is amazing that all such cell types have been derived from a single celled zygote by equatorial division.
With advancement in technology it is possible today not only to culture single cells but also to induce the cell division and to raise a whole plant from it. The advantage of single cell culture over callus or cell suspension culture or intact organ culture is that single cell culture system is an ideal system for studying cell metabolism, the effect of various substances on cellular responses and to obtain single cell clone. Free cells in cultures permit quick administration and withdrawal of diverse chemicals or substances, thereby making them easy targets for mutant selection. Cell line selection technique can be usefully applied to produce high- yielding cultures as well as plants with superior agronomic traits.
Definition of Single Cell Culture:
Single cell culture is method of growing isolated single cell aseptically on a nutrient medium under controlled conditions.