RITA, an apparatus which facilitates in vitro culture

In vitro culture allows routine preparation of thousands of "certified copies" of a plant from a simple tissue fragment from the mother plant. This is achieved through the use of complex mixtures of mineral salts, sugars, amino acids, vitamins, and growth regulators. Although a liquid medium is considered ideal for the mass production of vitroplants, there are frequent problems of hyperhydricity and of physiological disorder (asphyxia) caused by the presence of residues in the medium. It has long been known that temporary immersion reduces these problems. From 1988, the Biotrop laboratory of Grad has worked on the use of this technique and the development of a simple, easy-to-use apparatus: Rita (automated temporary immersion recipient). This two-compartment apparatus makes use of the advantages of the liquid medium but does not suffer its drawbacks, since the plant material is only briefly in contact with the liquid. Rita is easy to use because of its design and size and is currently being utilized to micropropagate a large number of plants, notably selected hybrids of Coffea arabica. (Texte integral)