Field Testing of Arabica Bioreactor-Derived Plants

Seeds are the most common form of plant propagation and should be used when the species is autogamous (homozygous), or when reliable production of hybrid seeds can be made in large quantities. Vegetative propagation applies when the plant species does not produce seeds, or hybrid seeds cannot be commercially utilized. Rooting and grafting are the most common methods of vegetative propagation. Micropropagation is utilized when (a) there is difficulty to apply traditional propagation methods; (b) it is important to start from “disease-free” planting materials; or (c) there is a need to produce very large numbers of plants in a short period of time. Micropropagation can be achieved by different in vitro multiplication methods: (1) growth of pre-existing axillary buds; (2) production of shoots via organogenesis; or (3) plantlet production via somatic embryogenesis.