What is often the source material of explants for tissue culture?

In tissue culture, explants are small pieces of plant tissue used to grow new plants under controlled conditions. Leaves are often chosen as a source material for explants because they contain a variety of cells and tissues that can readily proliferate and regenerate new plants. Leaf explants typically have a higher surface area and contain abundant chloroplasts, which can support photosynthesis in the early stages of plant growth. This regenerative ability is useful for propagating plants, especially when combined with specific growth hormones.

Explants from leaves can lead to rapid growth and the formation of callus tissue, which can subsequently differentiate into roots or shoots, resulting in the successful propagation of new plantlets. This regenerative process is a fundamental aspect of tissue culture techniques in agricultural biotechnology, enabling the multiplication of desirable plant varieties or the production of genetically modified plants.