Plants from Test Tubes

An Introduction to Micropropagation

(Third Edition)

Acclaimed since its first appearance as the most practical guide to plant tissue culture and widely adopted as a textbook, this standard work is now even better. This expanded edition introduces new developments in biotechnology, such as genetic engineering and cell culture. It provides detailed recipes for propagating plants from more than 30 families. It explains clearly how to set up a propagating laboratory, from a hobbyist's kitchen to an elaborate commercial enterprise.

Media reviews of this book:

"Plants from Test Tubes is the best hands-on how-to-do-it text, including recipes for propagating fifty-four varieties of ferns, flowering plants, and conifers. "

—Whole Earth, Spring 2001

"This new edition of an essential reference, updated to include the explosion of scientific information in the related field of biotechnology, remains the most accessible and practical book on the subject."

—Lydiane Kyte, Wisconsin Bookwatch, August 22, 2000

"This is an altogether wonderful book for budding plant scientists or gardeners who seek to expand their gardening knowledge."

—Charles Hardman, Herbertia, August 2000

"Your best hands-on, how-to-do-it text ... You'll need to learn the new vocabulary but this is an easy place to do it. "

—Whole Earth, Summer 1999

Customer reviews of this book:

"Excellent book; perfect resource for beginners and advanced propagators."

—C. C. from Lone Butte, British Columbia, April 7, 2007

"Very good subject coverage."

—Josef B. from Richmond, British Columbia, May 11, 2006

"Good — very good."

—Brad K. from Logan, Ohio, May 6, 2006

"This book was perfect. It provided a thorough study of micropropagation at an easy-to-read level."

—Rob N. from Homestead, Florida, August 29, 2005

"Excellent book! Just what I needed to learn micropropagation."

—Richard P. from Avon, Ohio, December 22, 2003

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An excerpt from this book:

Tissue culture was first used on a large scale by the orchid industry in the 1950s. Some fortuitous early discoveries opened the door to tissue culture for quality orchids, where previously growers had struggled with unpredictable seed or difficult-to-propagate, virus-infected stock. Later, it became clear that any plant would respond to tissue culture as long as the right formula and the right processes were developed for its culture. With the widespread acceptance of the technique in the nursery business, it is surprising how many people are still not aware of plant tissue culture. Some people ask, when they hear or read about tissue culture, What is it? How is it done? Who is doing it and why? You may ask, Can I do this myself? or, Should I even try? What are the costs of building a laboratory? What are the potential financial returns? Some want to know who invented it or where it came from ...

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