C. Leifert et al., ECOLOGY OF MICROBIAL SAPROPHYTES AND PATHOGENS IN TISSUE-CULTURE AND FIELD-GROWN PLANTS - REASONS FOR CONTAMINATION PROBLEMS IN-VITRO, Critical reviews in plant sciences, 13(2), 1994, pp. 139-183
This review compares published surveys of microbial populations in pla
nt tissue and cell cultures with the microbial saprophytes and pathoge
ns found on field grown plants and microbial populations in the labora
tory environment. From this comparison and the measured reduction in c
ontamination after improvements in working practices in the laboratory
, conclusions can be drawn about the importance of the explant and the
laboratory as sources of contamination. Mechanisms of pathogenicity i
n vitro are described to explain why bacteria, fungi, and yeasts that
are not pathogenic to plants in the field become pathogens in plant ti
ssue cultures. Conversely, plant metabolism and its effect on the tiss
ue culture environment are described to explain why prokaryotes, virus
es, and viroids that cause disease in the field can stay latent in vit
ro. Detection methods for latent contaminants in plane tissue cultures
are summarized, and the strategies and methods for prevention or trea
tment of contamination are discussed.