Explained various methods for the Production of disease free planting materials

1. Production of disease (virus)
free planting materials
N. H. SHANKAR REDDY
Ph.D., Plant Pathology
Annamalai University

2. Various methods of employed for eradication and production of virus free planting
materials.
1. Thermotherapy
2. Eradication through tissue culture
3. Chemotherapy
4. Electrotherapy

3. 1. Thermotherapy
High temperature
• In thermotherapy high temperature treatment is widely used for the production of
virus free plants.
• Parent plant materials are grown in a specially designed growth chamber at
increased temperatures of 30-40oC for 2-3 months.
• Eg – Banana (cucumber mosaic virus), Potato (Potato virus A, X, Y).
Low temperature
• low temp. 10-15oC followed by meristem tip culture has been employed for
production of virus free plants.
• Eg – Potato leaf roll virus (PLRV), Potato virus Y (PVY) from potato can be
eliminated.

4. 2. Eradication through tissue culture
Different types of tissue culture techniques has been employing in production of
virus free plants.
I. Callus culture
II. Meristem tip culture
III. Protoplast culture
IV. Reproductive tissue

5. 3. Chemotherapy
• Virus free plants can be produced through the use of chemicals.
• Growth promoting chemicals like cytokinin will eradicate virus during meristem
tip culture.
• Other antiviral chemicals like Ribavirin, acycloguanosine and thiouracil.
• Ex – Indian citrus ring spot virus from plants of kinnow, and PLRV, PVX and
PVY in potato

6. 4. Electrotherapy
• Application of electrical pulse to produce virus free plants
• Ex – elimination of PVX from clones of potato

7. Video available at you tube
Channel – Geeky Researcher