MINERAL AND CARBOHYDRATE NUTRITION OF PLANT-CELL AND TISSUE-CULTURES

Recent advances in our understanding of the mineral (and carbohydrate) nutrition of cultured plant cells and tissues are reviewed. The metho ds used for empirical selection of nutrient composition of culture med ia for different plant general species and types of culture are critic ally evaluated. The acquisition of nutrients is discussed in terms of their physical availability in the culture medium and uptake from the medium. The effect on uptake of factors such as pH and water potential and the relationship with growth rates and medium depletion am examin ed in detail. Finally, some effects of nutrients on morphogenesis of p lants are reviewed.