Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
Plant Science Today (PST)

Review Articles

Vol. 12 No. 3 (2025)

Evaluating the effectiveness of teak tissue culture in ex situ conservation, with a focus on its practical implementation and challenges in commercial forestry

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.8095
Submitted
5 March 2025
Published
19-07-2025 — Updated on 29-07-2025
Versions

Abstract

Plant tissue culture is an important tool in forestry and biotechnology with its substantial improvements in plant propagation. The development of tissue culture is started with Haberlandt’s totipotency theory and the mid-20th century discovery of plant growth regulators which transformed methods of plant multiplication. The utilization of tissue culture in the micropropagation of teak (Tectona grandis L.) is a valuable hardwood species used for building, furniture and lumber. Through the production of genetically identical seedlings with desired characteristics including disease resistance, rapid development and high wood density. Tissue culture overcomes the drawbacks of traditional teak propagation which includes low germination rates, pest susceptibility and slow growth. This method supports conservation and sustainable forestry practices by providing a few benefits such as disease-free plant production, quick multiplication and year-round availability. Highly expensive, somaclonal fluctuation, contamination dangers and acclimatization hurdles are still major drawbacks. The importance of tissue culture in genetic improvement which allows for the preservation of elite genotypes and the creation of faster-growing, pest-resistant teak varieties is also examined in the research. Tissue culture is still a vital technique for large-scale teak production, reforestation and biodiversity protection despite its difficulties. It provides a revolutionary approach to commercial forestry and environmental sustainability.

References

  1. 1. Thorpe TA. History of plant tissue culture. Molecular Biotechnology. 2007;37:169-80. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12033-007-0031-3
  2. 2. Tongsad P, Laipasu P, Chareonsap PP, Poeaim A. The effect of plant growth regulator and in vitro conservation of teak (Tectona grandis L.) by tissue culture. International Journal of Agricultural Technology. 2018;14(7):2171-80.
  3. 3. Goh DK, Alloysius D, Gidiman J, Chan HH, Mallet B, Monteuuis O. Selection and propagation of superior teak for quality improvement in plantations: case study of the ICSB/Cirad-Forêt joint project. Kerala Forest Research Institute; 2003.
  4. 4. Yasodha R, Sumathi R, Gurumurthi K. Improved micropropagation methods for teak. Journal of Tropical Forest Science. 2005;17:63-75.
  5. 5. Oboho EG, Iyadi JN. Rooting potential of mature stem cuttings of some forest tree species for vegetative propagation. Journal of Applied and Natural Science. 2013;5(2):442-6. https://doi.org/10.31018/jans.v5i2.350
  6. 6. Mahalakshmi R, Vineetha MV, Warrier RR. Optimising gelling agents, light source and after-care to commercialise teak tissue culture. Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology. 2018;28(1):13-24. https://doi.org/10.3329/ptcb.v28i1.37194
  7. 7. Priestley JH, Swingle CF. Vegetative propagation from the standpoint of plant anatomy. US Department of Agriculture; 1930.
  8. 8. Kataria N, Yadav K, Kumari S, Singh N. Micropropagation: an important tool for conserving forest trees. Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science. 2013;36(1):1-26.
  9. 9. Gupta PK, Nadgir AL, Mascarenhas AF, Jagannathan V. Tissue culture of forest trees: clonal multiplication of Tectona grandis L.(teak) by tissue culture. Plant Science Letters. 1980;17(3):259-68. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-4211(80)90156-X
  10. 10. Rohr R, Iliev I, Scaltsoyinnes A, Tsoulpha P. Acclimatization of micro propagated forest trees. In: International Symposium on Acclimatization and Establishment of Micropropagated Plants. ISHS Acta Horticulturae 616; 2001 Sep 19. p. 59-69. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2003.616.3
  11. 11. Durkovic J, Mišalová A. Micropropagation of temperate noble hardwoods: an overview. Functional Plant Science and Biotechnology. 2008;2(1):1-9.
  12. 12. Boulay M. Conifer micropropagation: applied research and commercial aspects. In: Cell and tissue culture in forestry: case histories: gymnosperms, angiosperms and palms. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands; 1987. p. 185-206. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0992-7_1
  13. 13. Vyas P, Yadav DK, Khandelwal P. Tectona grandis (teak)–A review on its phytochemical and therapeutic potential. Natural Product Research. 2019;33(16):2338-54. https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2018.1440217
  14. 14. Saad AI, Elshahed AM. Plant tissue culture media. Recent advances in plant in vitro culture; 2012. p. 30-40. https://doi.org/10.5772/50569
  15. 15. Matthews P. Vegetative propagation from stem cuttings, leaves and roots. In: Bowes BG, editor. A colour Atlas of plant propagation and conservation. London: Manson Publishing; 1999. p. 58-6. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-022-01044-w
  16. 16. De Gyves EM, Royani JI, Rugini E. Efficient method of micropropagation and in vitro rooting of teak (Tectona grandis L.) focusing on large-scale industrial plantations. Annals of Forest Science. 2007;64(1):73-8. https://doi.org/10.1051/forest:2006090
  17. 17. Tambarussi EV, Rogalski M, Galeano E, Brondani GE, Martin VD, Silva LA, Carrer H. Efficient and new method for Tectona grandis in vitro regeneration. Crop Breeding and Applied Biotechnology. 2017;17(2):124-32. https://doi.org/10.1590/1984-70332017v17n2a19
  18. 18. Mascarenhas AF, Kendurkar SV, Gupta PK, Khuspe SS, Agrawal DC. Teak. In: Cell and tissue culture in forestry: case histories: gymnosperms, angiosperms and palms. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands; 1987. p. 300-15. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-0992-7_23
  19. 19. Tiwari SK, Tiwari KP, Siril EA. An improved micropropagation protocol for teak. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture. 2002;71:1-6. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016570000846
  20. 20. Stephane G, Éliane MT, Hervé KS, Brahima SA, Koutoua A, Mongomaké K. Effect of cytokinins on micropropagation of teak (Tectona grandis L.) grown in Cote D'ivoire. Journal of Advances in Biology & Biotechnology. 2023;26(10):1-1.
  21. 21. Srinivasan R, Selvam GG, Karthikeyan K, Chandran C, Kulothungan S, Govindasamy C. In vitro propagation of shoot and callus culture of Tectona grandis (L.). Global Journal of Biotechnology & Biochemistry. 2012;7(1):26-9. https://doi.org/10.5829/idosi.gjbb.2012.7.1.06
  22. 22. Vani P, Kistamma S, Reddy KS, Reddy AN, Mohan CH. Antibacterial activity, antioxidant activity and micropropagation of Gymnema sylvestre R. Br. a valuable medicinal plant. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry. 2016;5(2):207-10.
  23. 23. Kozgar MI, Shahzad A. An improved protocol for micropropagation of teak tree (Tectona grandis L.). Rendiconti Lincei. 2012;23:195-202. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12210-012-0176-2
  24. 24. Antony T, Anees PV, Kumar V, Sangamithra D, Philip T, Santhoshkumar AV. Application of mercuric chloride and charcoal in micro-propagation of teak (Tectona grandis). Indian Journal of Tropical Biodiversity. 2015;23(2):157-66.
  25. 25. Akram M, Aftab F. An efficient method for clonal propagation and in vitro establishment of softwood shoots from epicormic buds of teak (Tectona grandis L.). Forestry Studies in China. 2009;11:105-10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11632-009-0018-1
  26. 26. Green CE, Phillips RL. Plant regeneration from tissue cultures of maize 1. Crop Science. 1975;15(3):417-21. https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci1975.0011183X001500030040x
  27. 27. Rahman AH. Vegetative propagation of few Forest species. Bano Vigyan Patrika. 1977;6(1):51-7.
  28. 28. Husen A, Pal M. Effect of branch position and auxin treatment on clonal propagation of Tectona grandis Linn. f. New Forests. 2007;34:223-33. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-007-9050-y
  29. 29. Singh S, Kumar P, Ansari SA. Clonal propagation of teak (Tectona grandis) by composite treatment of auxin with thiamine. Indian Journal of Forestry. 2005;28(2):108-11.
  30. 30. Hoffman RM. To do tissue culture in two or three dimensions? That is the question. Stem Cells. 1993;11(2):105-11. https://doi.org/10.1002/stem.5530110205
  31. 31. Sudheer WN, Praveen N, Al-Khayri JM, Jain SM. Role of plant tissue culture medium components. In: Advances in plant tissue culture. Academic Press; 2022. p. 51-83. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-90795-8.00012-6
  32. 32. Long Y, Yang Y, Pan G, Shen Y. New insights into tissue culture plant-regeneration mechanisms. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2022;13:926752. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.926752
  33. 33. Chandler SF, Thorpe TA. Variation from plant tissue cultures: biotechnological application to improving salinity tolerance. Biotechnology advances. 1986;4(1):117-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/0734-9750(86)90007-8
  34. 34. Phillips GC, Garda M. Plant tissue culture media and practices: an overview. In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology-Plant. 2019;55:242-57. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11627-019-09983-5
  35. 35. Giri CC, Shyamkumar B, Anjaneyulu C. Progress in tissue culture, genetic transformation and applications of biotechnology to trees: an overview. Trees. 2004;18:115-35. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-003-0287-6
  36. 36. Palanisamy K, Subramanian K. Vegetative propagation of mature teak trees (Tectona grandis L.). Silvae Genetica. 2001;50(5-6):188-90.
  37. 37. Keiding H, Boonkird SA. Vegetative propagation of teak. Food and Agriculture Organization.
  38. 38. Henry Y, Vain P, De Buyser J. Genetic analysis of in vitro plant tissue culture responses and regeneration capacities. Euphytica. 1994;79:45-58. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00023575
  39. 39. Loyola-Vargas VM, Ochoa-Alejo N. An introduction to plant tissue culture: advances and perspectives. In: Loyola-Vargas V, Ochoa-Alejo N, editors. Plant cell culture protocols. New York (NY): Humana Press; 2018. p. 3-13. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-8594-4_1
  40. 40. Dodds JH, Roberts LW. Experiments in plant tissue culture. International Potato Center; 1985 Oct 31.
  41. 41. Monteuuis O. Clonal teak. In: Ramasamy Y, Galeano E, Win TT, editors. The teak genome. Cham: Springer International Publishing; 2021 Sep 2. p. 155-69. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79311-1_10
  42. 42. Gamborg OL, Murashige T, Thorpe TA, Vasil IK. Plant tissue culture media. In vitro. 1976;12(7):473-8.
  43. 43. Razdan MK. An introduction to plant tissue culture. Oxford and IBH publishing; 2002.
  44. 44. Pandey D, Brown C. Teak: a global overview. Unasylva, FAO; 2000 Jan 1. p. 3-13.
  45. 45. Bhaskaran S, Smith RH. Regeneration in cereal tissue culture: a review. Crop science. 1990;30(6):1328-37. https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci1990.0011183X003000060034x
  46. 46. Palanisamy K, Hegde M, Yi JS. Teak (Tectona grandis Linn. f.): A renowned commercial timber species. Journal of Forest and Environmental Science. 2009;25(1):1-24.
  47. 47. Ansari SA, Kumar S, Sharma S, Shirin F. Clonal propagation of teak. Ijn: Mandal AK, Ansari SA, editors. Genetics and silviculture of teak. Dehradun: International Book Distributors; 2001.p. 165-86.
  48. 48. Chareonmit N. Teak propagation and culture. Graduate student Theses, Dissertations & Professional Papers 6169; 1960.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.